Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, neck, and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service. The thyroid disability is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure but the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected knee disorders and his current left knee arthritis.

The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus, right and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome, and hypertension were initially granted service connection in March 2006 with noncompensable ratings. The claims for increased ratings have been remanded multiple times.,For the period prior to October 6, 2010, the Veteran's bilateral pes cavus was rated as noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the claims due to issues with obtaining inpatient hospital records and converting the Veteran's separation audiogram. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for the right knee strain or a rating in excess of 20 percent for the left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disabilities, including arthritis, post-operative meniscectomy residuals, and instability. The examiner must address functional impairment due to repetitive use or flare-ups, differentiate between the effects of these disabilities and other conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc., and provide a rationale for any opinions.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling further examinations. The case will be reconsidered in light of all the evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The claim is now considered on its merits.

The Veteran's sleep apnea was found to have its onset in service and is granted as service connected. The right knee disability, PTSD, and TDIU claims are all granted.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee ligamentous instability. The issue of direct or secondary service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease and osteoarthritis is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for any of the conditions he is seeking service connection for, and thus, his claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining recent treatment records and readjudicating the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records, as his last VA examination was from 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting medical examinations. The claims for service connection are related to musculoskeletal conditions (heel spurs, knee disability) and a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right foot, low back, bilateral knee, bilateral hip, and left foot disabilities, cannot be granted as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology since active service.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome has been manifested by extension of no less than 10 degrees and flexion of no less than 95 degrees, with no objective evidence of instability. The criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a low back or left knee disability, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension and bilateral knee conditions, have rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain service treatment records and private treatment records related to his left knee disability. The VA examiner will provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the VA examination report and an inaccurate factual premise in a private treatment record. A new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and likely etiology of the claimed right knee disorder and right calf condition.