Knee Board decisions

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for left eye glaucoma and denied increased ratings for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee surgical scars. The claims for increased ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis and status post reconstructive surgery, as well as for bilateral hearing loss, were remanded.

The Board granted service connection for headaches, right and left knee disabilities as undiagnosed illnesses related to the Veteran's Persian Gulf War service. The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and higher initial ratings for right ankle degenerative arthritis disability, left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left and right knee strain disability, as well as a TDIU due to service-connected disability.

The Board granted service connection for traumatic brain injury and right lower extremity sciatica, dismissed the appeal as moot. The claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and ratings in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and left lower extremity sciatica were denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's right and left knee disorders, but granted a 10 percent rating for painful left anterior knee scars.

The Board granted service connection for calcific tendonitis of the left elbow, finding it had its onset during active service. The other claims were remanded for further development.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for chronic ulcer, lumbar spine, and right knee disorders based on new and relevant evidence. The claim for a right knee disorder was denied.

The Board granted service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, sinusitis, and chronic diarrhea (IBS) with a 30 percent initial rating.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, assigned a 70 percent rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder, and denied increased ratings for left and right varicocele. The remaining claims were remanded.

The Board granted the restoration of a 10 percent rating for radiculopathy, right lower extremity (sciatic nerve) associated with lumbar strain DDD and remanded several other claims.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left knee disability and right knee disability to ensure that VA's duty to assist is properly followed, including obtaining an adequate medical opinion.

The claim for an earlier effective date for the initial rating of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed as a matter of law, and further development is required for other claims.

The Board granted the Veteran's petition to readjudicate his previously denied claim for service connection for a right knee disability, and remanded the issue for further development.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected left and right knee conditions, granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for right knee tendinopathy as it was fully granted by a prior rating decision. The claims for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and lumbar spine disorder, as well as eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35, were denied.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee condition and a right knee condition, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board remands the matter for further development, specifically to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, and right knee strain based on evidence showing that these conditions had onset during active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection.

The Board remands the claims for increased ratings of left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome as the VA examination is not adequate to address the Veteran's lay evidence of additional functional impairment with repeated use over time.