Knee Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current extent and severity of his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee condition and heart disability due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine the etiology of his current left knee conditions, including arthritis, and whether they are related to his in-service injury. For the heart disability claim, an addendum opinion is needed to address pre-existence and aggravation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current left knee chondromalacia and medial meniscus tear, including whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any diagnosed low back, left knee, right knee, or bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The Veteran has not provided evidence of current diagnoses for these conditions.,Service connection is denied as there is no medical evidence linking the Veteran’s current low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities to his service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and left knee disorder. The right knee total replacement and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity claims are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for low back disorder, left leg disorder, diabetes mellitus, and whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder, TBI, and a right-hand disorder due to withdrawal by the Veteran's attorney.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms, including diverticular disease and irritable bowel syndrome, are considered service-connected due to an undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability. The right knee instability is granted a temporary total rating based on surgery performed in January 2014.

The Veteran's left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities are denied service connection as they are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right clavicle fracture. A 30% disability rating for a fracture of the right malleolus with degenerative joint disease is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of response regarding potential motor vehicle accident records that may be relevant to the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are related to service, specifically his pre-existing femoral retroversion and genu valgum.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder has been granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of increased ratings for his left knee, lumbar spine disability, and instability/limitation of flexion of the left knee.

The Veteran's left knee and left shoulder disabilities have been rated at 10% since the applicable rating periods. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral excisions of gynecomastia resulted in a 10% rating. The issue of service connection for his left knee disability was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his in-service injury and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shin splints and the earlier effective date claim for right knee degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's shin splints resolved without residual effects, and there was no evidence of a current disability to support service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee strain with non-inflammatory synovitis, status post arthroscopic knee surgery, is due to a right knee injury sustained during service and subsequent arthroscopic surgery. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether this condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,For the period prior to November 9, 2016, his sinusitis was not compensably rated. For the period after November 9, 2016, a 30 percent rating is granted for sinusitis.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition and related scar are remanded due to lack of STRs and need for an examination to determine etiology.,The Veteran's back condition is remanded as VA needs to provide an opinion on the likely etiology of his current diagnosed back disability, including consideration of in-service duties.,The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and need for addendum opinions.,The Veteran's flat feet are remanded because a VA examiner has not addressed whether preexisting flat feet were aggravated by service.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is remanded as the threshold for disability was not met in his previous examination. The issues of right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss are inextricably intertwined.,The Veteran's right hand middle finger laceration residuals are remanded due to potential missing records from hospitalization during service.,The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is remanded as the Veteran asserts an increase in severity since his last VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, right knee osteoarthritis (OA), bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and depression. The Veteran's current disabilities were not shown to have been incurred during or aggravated by active duty service.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2013, for the award of service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased rating for right knee disability, service connection for left knee disability, service connection for right hip disability, service connection for left hip disability, service connection for back disability, and service connection for neck disability due to insufficient medical evidence.