Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left elbow, right elbow, back, left knee, and right knee disabilities. Service connection is also remanded for a psychiatric disability (to include PTSD).

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for left knee, ankle, and foot disorders, tinnitus, sleep apnea, hypertension, and migraine headaches. The VA is directed to obtain relevant medical records and schedule examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left leg disability, specifically whether it is related to a right knee injury in service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right knee disability has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder due to new evidence. The claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and for bilateral hearing loss are remanded as additional medical opinions are needed. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether his obesity, caused by his service-connected right knee disability, is a substantial factor in causing other disabilities. The claims for service connection for left knee, lower back, left hip, heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are all remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, narcolepsy, amputation of left lower extremity, and right knee reconstruction surgery are not supported by the evidence. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted from November 27, 2017, forward.

The Veteran's left knee condition is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current level of severity, and for obtaining any outstanding medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities are related to his in-service parachute jumps. The tinnitus is linked to military noise exposure, and bilateral hearing loss is associated with service.

Service connection for MUCMI and an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder with stressor-related disorder are granted. The Veteran's symptoms include social isolation, anxious affect and mood, chronic sleep impairment, nightmares, hypervigilance, anxiety, suspiciousness, difficulty focusing, and suicidal ideation.

The Veteran's left and right knee strains have been rated at 40 percent since November 7, 2015. The most recent VA examination found that the Veteran's range of motion was limited to 30-44 degrees for both knees with painful motion, but no incoordination after repetitive use.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions of bilateral hands, knees and fibromyalgia are not service connected as secondary to her service-connected pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's right knee disability claims are being remanded due to the lack of VA examination records and incomplete treatment records. The Board will request additional information from the Veteran and schedule a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased rating claims for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral pes cavus with bilateral heel spurs, left foot hallux valgus, right foot hallux valgus, posterior thigh muscle (muscle group XIII), hypertension, inguinal hernia, kidney stones, and generalized anxiety disorder. The claims will be reconsidered in light of the additional evidence received since the April and May 2016 Supplemental Statements of the Case.

The Veteran's service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities is granted. Service connection was also granted for a cervical spine disability, claimed as moderate degenerative disc disease (DDD), C4-5, C5-6, C6-7.

The Veteran's right knee replacement due to degenerative osteoarthritis is rated at 60 percent effective October 1, 2004.,Prior to August 23, 2007, and from November 1, 2007, to October 23, 2013, the Veteran's left knee arthritis and replacement associated with right knee replacement is rated at 60 percent effective December 1, 2014.,Beginning October 1, 2004, entitlement to TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the lack of a current diagnosis of the claimed conditions. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension is also remanded as there is no evidence that his diastolic pressure was predominantly 100 or more, despite being on continuous medication.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for dizziness, right ankle disability, left knee strain, right knee strain, thoracolumbar strain with sacroiliac degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left ankle ligament strain, and PTSD. The remand requests additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding no current disability. Service connection for migraine headaches was granted with a 30% rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and new legal requirements.