Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for eye disability, left knee disability, and left shoulder disability due to inadequate medical opinions and potential missing STRs. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any outstanding STRs and provide a new examination with an addendum opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, considering his education and work history. Therefore, TDIU is granted.

The Board has found errors in the AOJ's notice and requires that a pre-decisional hearing be provided to the Veteran before the AOJ on all reopened claims.

The Veteran's left knee condition, right knee condition, and back condition are granted as secondary to his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent, effective October 31, 2017. The Board has granted separate 10 percent ratings for lateral instability in both knees.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right and left knee chronic musculoligamentous strain, as the July 2017 VA examination is inadequate for rating purposes. A retrospective opinion on estimated passive range of motion measurements, during weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing, and after repetitive use is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee disorder and his service, as well as its relation to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected conditions, including depressive disorder, right and left patellar tendonitis, left knee anterior instability, and right ankle sprain. As such, the appeal for service connection of OSA has been granted.

The Board has found that there are missing medical records from the Veteran's service in the Fleet Reserve and from his private doctors, which may impact the determination of whether he is entitled to service connection for his knee disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain these records.

The Board has found that the Veteran's back and left knee disabilities are currently present, but a VA examination is needed to determine their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, right ankle, and left ankle conditions incurred during active duty parachute jumps. The Veteran's current pain and swelling in these joints are considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and a rating increase due to incomplete STRs, duty to assist errors, and inadequate VA medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain complete STRs and military personnel records, as well as adequate VA medical examinations and opinions that consider all evidence of record.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee strain are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his disabilities. The AOJ will obtain a new VA opinion to address whether the Veteran's knee strains are related to in-service injuries, including walking on gravel during deployment in Kyrgyzstan.

The Board denied service connection for left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, and a right knee disorder due to lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected conditions and if it is aggravated by those conditions or medications taken for them.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding multiple knee and hip conditions, as well as a shoulder pain condition and back condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient VA examination and failure to obtain relevant private treatment records. The Veteran's right knee disorder is being reviewed again for proper service connection determination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM) and sleep disturbances, as well as dismissed her claim for service connection for a right knee condition. The decision also denied her requests for restoration of a 20 percent evaluation for RLE radiculopathy and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the same condition.