Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate prior VA examination and a need for further medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's gout.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities and obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral degenerative joint disease of the knees, hips, and lumbosacral spine as secondary to his service-connected painful heels with degenerative changes.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, migraine headaches, left shoulder strain with glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis, left elbow strain, right elbow strain, left wrist sprain, right wrist sprain, cervical spine strain, left ankle strain, right ankle strain, and left knee strain with arthritis. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.,The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain with arthritis. The Board found that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his right knee disability and entitlement to TDIU due to inadequate examination, as well as outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and consideration of his claims.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted an increased rating to 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision. Service connection for CTS of the right wrist as secondary to a service-connected condition was denied. The Veteran was awarded TDIU for the period prior to August 12, 2010.

The Veteran's left leg above the knee amputation is being remanded for additional medical examination and review of clinical records to determine if VA negligence caused or aggravated his condition, which would affect his entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's BPPV is due to his service-connected right ankle and knee, which gave way during a fall. The Board finds that the Veteran's testimony regarding the cause of his BPPV has some tendency to make a nexus more likely than not.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board hearing at the Atlanta RO. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, reopening of a right knee disorder claim, and secondary service connection for a back disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disorder based on new and material evidence. The Board found that the preexisting bilateral knee condition did not worsen during service, thus denying service connection. However, the Board also noted that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at entry into service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left wrist sprain and right ankle sprain was received on April 10, 2014. The Board finds that the earliest claim for entitlement to benefits for both a left wrist sprain and a right ankle sprain was received on April 10, 2014.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and anxiety), cervical spine disability, hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and low back disability are all related to his active service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a diagnosed low back, right knee, or left knee disability during service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Veteran's complaints have not been supported by objective medical findings and his assertions alone are not competent to establish a current disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA outpatient treatment records and providing an orthopedic assessment to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee condition is related to his service-connected disabilities of the lower extremities or incurred in active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder did not pre-exist his service and was not incurred or aggravated during service. The VA examiner concluded that any current left knee disorder is less likely than not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder did not develop during service and is not related to any in-service injury. The preexisting condition was determined to be less likely caused by or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, clarifying the Veteran's service treatment history, and scheduling a VA examination to assess his knee conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to an event, injury, or disease in service and finds it at least as likely as not that his current right knee disability is due to his military service.

The Veteran's joint pains are attributed to known clinical diagnoses of degenerative conditions and are not related to his active service, including exposure to environmental hazards in the Persian Gulf.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the final denial. The claim is granted as these conditions are found to be related to his service-connected left knee disability.