Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records, verifying service dates, and providing a supplemental medical opinion regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral knee disorders. The issues of increased ratings for right shoulder disabilities are also being addressed.

The Board found no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused the current left knee disorder, and there is insufficient medical opinion to establish a link between the current condition and service. The Veteran's current left knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypertension was granted, and he is now rated at 10% for this condition. The claims for service connection for various joint conditions (left knee, right knee, left hip, right hip, left shoulder, right shoulder) and restless leg syndrome were reopened due to new evidence received since the last final denial in 1990.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and left knee degenerative changes, as well as a separate rating for left knee extension contracture. The claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was also denied. No effective date is provided.

The Board has restored a 10 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee, finding that there is sufficient non-overlapping symptomatology to support separate ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including additional VA examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left leg sciatica with intervertebral disc syndrome established. Effective July 25, 2012, he was awarded a 30 percent rating for adjustment disorder with mixed emotions and conduct, depression and primary insomnia (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder). The Veteran's effective dates are granted for the service connection determinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were granted, while his service connection claims for left knee and shoulder arthritis were denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to evaluate his left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability had its onset in service and is related to his military service. However, there is no evidence linking the Veteran's hypertension to his service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability, finding that his current condition was due to the natural progression of his preexisting injury and not related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left ankle disorders, both secondary to his service-connected residuals of left fifth metatarsal fracture, are being remanded due to the failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's total left knee replacement does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating from July 1, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability was not aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right knee and left ankle disabilities are not related to service, including parachute jumps during service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a right knee examination. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.