Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board found that the Veteran's diagnosed osteoarthritis of the knees did not have its onset during military service and is not etiologically related to his in-service knee injuries. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied. The initial rating assigned was appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for stress fractures of the tibia and femur adjacent to the right knee, as well as a right ankle injury, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions in service or sufficient medical evidence linking them to current symptoms.

The Board found that the appellant's back and right knee disabilities did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and thus could not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board also determined that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right knee disability and lumbar spine disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence submitted since May 2013, including a September 2016 VA examination evaluating the current severity of the Veteran's right knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated outpatient records, as his last examination was over five years ago.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, back disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral knee disorders, back disorder, and left shoulder disorders are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and additional development of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, right leg disability, and left leg disability were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after his separation from active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and legal analysis, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting specialized examinations to determine the nature of his current disabilities and their relationship to the February 2004 VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder did not clearly and unmistakably pre-exist service, but was less likely caused by in-service events. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, skin disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, toenail disorder, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, vein disorder, low back disorder, neurological disorders of the lower extremities, and eye disorder were not shown to be related to service. The Veteran did not provide any statements attributing these conditions to service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding all issues, including service connection for various ankle and knee disabilities, sinus disorder, left thumb sprain, lumbar strain, shoulder degenerative joint disease, and onychomycosis of bilateral feet. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU as of December 1, 2015. Prior to that date, his combined disability rating was not sufficient to warrant a TDIU.

The Board has restored the 10 percent disability ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, effective March 1, 2011.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a head injury, right hand fracture, TMJ disorder, and right knee disability are granted. The Veteran's hypertension is also found to be related to his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her left knee osteoarthritis, as the last examination was more than four years ago.