Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, and for increased ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome due to new evidence of increased severity since the last examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal is not fully resolved and requires additional development, including obtaining verification of in-service stressors and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded two issues related to service connection for a left leg above-the-knee amputation and a chest scar, both of which are secondary to other conditions. The Veteran failed to appear at the scheduled examination due to an address issue.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right above the knee amputation, including reopening claims for various conditions and obtaining medical records from correctional facilities. The Veteran is also required to undergo a VA examination to assess his current disability status.

The Veteran's left knee disability has worsened since his last VA examination in June 2013. He is being asked to provide any outstanding records and a new VA examination will be scheduled to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea with asthma and migraine headaches are currently rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations. The knee disabilities have not met the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent rating, the maximum authorized under Diagnostic Code 6260.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable (zero percent).,Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension was not established due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or within one year post-service.,There is no indication that the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities have been rated based on limitation of motion, with no higher ratings warranted due to the flexion and extension limitations not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.,For GERD, the Veteran has been rated at 10 percent since June 2015. The VA examiner found that his symptoms do not impact his ability to work.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired right lower extremity disorder, including his right ankle, foot, and heel symptoms, as well as his bilateral knee disorders (right and left), are related to service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to unclear or outdated evidence regarding his service-connected left knee, right clavicle, and right ankle conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left and right thumb disabilities, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability. The VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of his thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is granted as service connected. The claims for bilateral knee disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has denied service connection for various hip, knee, ankle, foot, and hand disorders as well as bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions were not present during or related to service.

The Board denied service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, as well as right and left knee disorders, finding no evidence of in-service onset or continuity of treatment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining recent VA or private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for diabetes, Graves' disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, left knee arthritis, or reflux.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his knee disorders, as well as the severity of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities and hypertension, as well as a need for an examination to confirm a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's non-service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to permanently preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds he is entitled to non-service-connected disability pension benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his bilateral knee disabilities. An addendum opinion on service connection for left hip arthritis will also be obtained.