Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral elbow impingement with osteoarthritis and cubital tunnel syndrome, as well as his bilateral knee condition, are found to be related to military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest available evaluation of 70 percent.,The Veteran's fatigue, headaches, muscle aches and pains, tingling of limbs, poor concentration, mood and sleep disorder, respiratory condition, low grade fevers, and boils are considered to be manifestations of an undiagnosed illness due to his Gulf War service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle and left knee disabilities are related to his service, granting entitlement to service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied multiple times, and no new or material evidence has been received to reopen any of the previously denied claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral knee pain is presumed to have been incurred in active service due to his service in Southwest Asia, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims can be fully adjudicated. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, providing an addendum opinion from the November 2014 examiner, and reviewing the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case to schedule a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has a current left knee disability and whether it relates to his military service. The Veteran is advised that he may submit any evidence supporting the occurrence or onset of left knee pain in service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder due to an inadequate July 2011 VA examination report. The appeal is now pending and will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in unemployability throughout the appellate period.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right shoulder and left knee disabilities have been withdrawn, effectively dismissing the appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not linked to active duty service, including in-service complaints. The evidence does not show a link between his military service and any current back condition.,For his left knee disability, the VA examiner opined that the degenerative changes observed during the examination were not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral knee replacements, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service. The current conditions are less likely than not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and knee disabilities did not begin during service or are otherwise related to his military service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board found that there is no indication of instability or injury to the semilunar cartilage in either knee, and thus denied a separate compensable rating for a bilateral knee disability based on instability or injury to the semilunar cartilage.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a liver disability (claimed as a fatty liver) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current folliculitis is incurred during active service and granted service connection for this condition. The other issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess her right knee disability and the current severity of her service-connected left knee meniscus tear and bilateral lower extremity stress fractures.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been granted. The Board finds that her current depression disability may be related to her military experiences, including witnessing injuries and deaths during the Persian Gulf War.