Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development, including an examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA and private treatment records, conduct new VA examinations for his right knee and left clavicle disabilities, and develop the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and back disability are not related to service, and as such, denied his claims for service connection. The secondary service connection claim for depression is moot due to lack of established service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to disease or injury incurred in active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches due to lack of a present diagnosis for hearing loss and insufficient evidence linking his current conditions to service. The claim for left knee patellofemoral syndrome was not addressed as it is part of the remand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, lumbar spine, and bilateral knee disabilities are not attributable to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease resulting in current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional treatment records and to schedule a VA examination for his service-connected knee disabilities. The claim will be reviewed after these actions are completed.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right knee disability, as well as whether it is related to service-connected left knee sprain. The appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and bowel disorder (IBS) are not causally or etiologically related to active service, arthritis cannot be presumed to have been incurred in service, and a bilateral knee disability is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar DDD. The claim for erectile dysfunction (ED) was not addressed as it pertains to medications prescribed for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and the initial compensable rating for right knee scars as of November 21, 2016.

The Veteran's left knee lateral meniscectomy and arthroscopy with osteoarthritis was characterized by dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent locking, pain, and effusion for the entire claims period. The Board granted a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5258 for the entire claims period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not service-connected and his lumbar spine disability is rated at 40%.

The Veteran's right knee disability, rated at 20 percent, does not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to this condition alone. However, his claim was referred for an extra-schedular evaluation which determined that he is not precluded from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right ankle sprain is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, effective August 14, 2017. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple knee/ankle conditions, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. His residuals of right distal fibula fracture were rated at 10 percent, his left knee disability was not found to be secondary to the service-connected condition, his low back disability was determined not to have been incurred in the line of duty, his scar to stomach and side was deemed not incurred in the line of duty, his facial scars were also deemed not incurred in the line of duty, his right arm disability was denied as not having been incurred in active service, and his head injury was denied. The Veteran's appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for facial scarring was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities did not have their onset during or as a result of service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee and back disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar strain and a left knee condition, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder), left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability. The evidence supports that these conditions began in active service.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for updated medical records and an orthopedic examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, including whether it is related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a sleep-related disability, and thus the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea cannot be granted.