Knee Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to the Veteran's low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The claims are denied as service connection is not warranted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left knee disability is as likely as not related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for a left knee disability. The issue of sleep apnea remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of neck, right knee, and back disorders are to be determined. The claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) is also to be determined. New evidence may have been submitted that could reopen these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, skin disorder, general arthritis, leg and knee disorder, back disorder, and neck disorder are not service-connected. The Board found no clear evidence of a pre-existing condition aggravated by service or any other aggravation during service.

The Veteran's migraines have been granted an initial rating of 30 percent, effective June 24, 2009. The lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities remain at a noncompensable (zero percent) rating.

The Board found the preponderance of evidence against a finding that the Veteran's right shoulder, left hip, and right knee disabilities were incurred during active service or within one year after separation from service. The VA medical opinions obtained in April 2017 did not consider all relevant evidence of record, including private medical records indicating treatment for hip pain since 2001 and osteoarthritis of both knees secondary to old injuries in 2009.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling due to pain and instability, but not meeting the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other diagnostic codes. A separate rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his right knee disability, service connection for myoclonus as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, and TDIU due to his service-connected right knee disability prior to August 10, 2012.

The Board found no evidence of a back disability related to service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and readjudicating the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions in a previous decision.

The Board has remanded this claim for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and affording the Veteran a new VA examination to assess his left knee disability. The Veteran's service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee will be evaluated based on its current severity.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee instability, as well as bilateral plantar fasciitis. The effective dates are set at October 18, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee osteoarthritis did not meet the criteria for a higher rating through November 2, 2015. However, beginning January 1, 2017, when he had a total knee replacement, his disability warranted a separate 10 percent rating for other knee impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and medical opinions regarding his left knee disability, PTSD, and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran also needs to provide any outstanding Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to evaluate the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities, including range of motion testing on active and passive motion in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted. The claims for increased ratings for right and left knees are pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service. The bilateral hip and knee disabilities are not directly related to service, but may have been aggravated by the service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected disabilities and for proper rating determinations.