Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of any right knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral upper extremity numbness, and left hip disorder. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA opinion regarding whether his service-connected bilateral ankle condition aggravated his bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is granted service connection. The Veteran's right knee scar is granted a disability rating of 20 percent, but no higher, from December 9, 2015. Other issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, particularly regarding SSA disability records and their relevance to the Veteran's current conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee degenerative patellofemoral arthritis and left knee meniscectomy due to a lack of recent VA examination records. The Veteran is required to provide updated medical evidence and be scheduled for an examination.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right wrist disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches. The claims were all denied as the evidence did not show a link to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his military service. The VA needs to obtain additional medical opinions and review all relevant records.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is already considered in his service-connected PTSD rating, so separate service connection for this condition is denied.,There is no evidence of hypertension or GERD during service and they were not shown to be related to service. Therefore, these conditions are also denied as service connected.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis as secondary to the service-connected right ankle disability and for a back disability as secondary to the service-connected right ankle disability. Service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability is denied.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle degenerative joint disease, bilateral wrist disability, and bilateral knee disability as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.,The Board also denied service connection for low back disability due to insufficient evidence showing a relationship between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's appeal of the effective date earlier than March 27, 2015 for the award of an increased 20 percent rating for left knee degenerative arthritis is dismissed. The claims of entitlement to higher ratings for left knee PFPS and right ankle disorder are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability, finding that there is no competent evidence linking his current left knee arthritis to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right total knee replacement and scars. The case will be returned for an addendum opinion considering the Veteran's lay statements about his change in gait.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of panic disorder began during active service and is granted service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, granted service connection for tinnitus, and denied service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's skin disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of records.

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% chance that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a left knee condition and low back disorder, finding new and material evidence. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's left knee and right hand disabilities, including a reduction in rating for left knee instability, increased ratings for osteoarthritis and other conditions, and evaluations for scars. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine current severity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective date prior to January 27, 2010 for service connection are remanded due to incomplete development of records and need for new examinations.