Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of his claim for an increased rating for subchondral sclerosis of the left knee with osteophyte and effusion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied due to failure to report for VA examinations without good cause, and the Board found no evidence of a link between service or a service-connected disability and his current psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right knee disability and whether any additional disability (to include nerve damage) is due to carelessness or negligence on the part of VA providers.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's left knee pain with limitation of motion is related to his military service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, including sleep disturbances, remains pending.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea have been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to ensure full compliance with the duty to assist, including obtaining additional medical evidence and scheduling a VA examination for his knee disabilities. The issues on appeal will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lower back disability, right knee instability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and determining if there are any new or material pieces of evidence that could support reopening of his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the loss of use of both lower extremities, such as to preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. Therefore, she is entitled to specially adapted housing but not special home adaptations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen his claims for service connection of a bilateral leg/knee condition and back condition. Further development is needed before these claims can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for arthritis of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and osteoarthritis of the right knee.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee replacement claimed as knee strain and finds that new and material evidence has been received. However, the Board also finds that there is no evidence to support a finding that the current left knee disability is related to active duty service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.,For his right knee patellofemoral syndrome, a 10 percent rating has been granted effective from July 9, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability determination, to be eligible for Dependents' Education Assistance (DEA) benefits under Title 38, Chapter 35, is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as his right knee disability and left knee disability, are related to injuries sustained during service. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated based on their current severity, with the left knee receiving a higher rating due to instability and arthritis. The right knee is also rated for arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disorder, and right knee and ankle disorders. The Veteran's claims were not supported by sufficient evidence to establish the required medical diagnoses or link between current conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or as a result of his military service.