Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and dismissed the remaining claims. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left and right ankle disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and depression.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error due to inadequate and minimally probative VA examination and opinions, thus the case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's eye condition, myopic astigmatism, is not service-connected as it was present prior to service and no superimposed disease or injury occurred during service.,There is no evidence of a current chronic headache disorder related to the Veteran's service. The Veteran's migraine headaches are not service-connected.,Hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown in service, did not manifest within a presumptive period, and there was no continuity of symptomatology attributable to service.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is not service-connected as it is not related to any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to obtain examinations for all claimed disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine (back) disability and remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, left wrist, and right wrist have been granted. The Veteran's knee conditions are rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has denied service connection for recurrent right hip, left knee, and left foot disabilities as well as diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's claims were based on his own statements of experiencing symptoms during active service, but no medical evidence supports these assertions.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left knee disability and TDIU are remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records and employment verification from his former employer, USPS.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, hypertension, OSA, left knee disability, and right knee disability on a secondary basis to the Veteran's already service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for obtaining private treatment records and considering the issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a left knee condition prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities were denied increased ratings, while the TDIU claim prior to January 29, 2020, was also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not having onset during or shortly after her military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding whether any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to incomplete records, inadequate examinations, and potential errors in the initial rating decisions. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical evidence and VA treatment records, as well as obtain any vocational rehabilitation or Chapter 31 records.

The Veteran's headaches (migraines) are found to be due to his military service, and service connection is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for left foot condition, right foot condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, left wrist condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, lower back condition, sciatica with numbness (LLE), and sciatica with numbness (RLE).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for BPPV has been remanded due to the inadequacy of the March 2020 VA examination.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic otitis media, and sinusitis are inextricably intertwined with the BPPV claim and have also been remanded.

The Veteran's left knee strain and left ankle strain have been granted restoration of their respective ratings to 10 percent and 20 percent, respectively. The rating for traumatic arthritis/causalgia, residuals right foot and ankle injury has also been restored to a 20 percent rating.,A 20 percent rating is granted for the Veteran's left knee strain and left ankle strain throughout the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and any other acquired psychiatric condition are remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding the validity of his claimed stressor.,PTSD service connection is remanded as there was insufficient verification of a contended in-service stressor. The Veteran has been provided with another VA examination, but no nexus opinion addressing the relationship between current major depressive disorder and service has been obtained.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral foot condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, low back condition, respiratory condition (Asthma), and right knee condition are remanded due to a lack of adequate VA examinations or nexus opinions.,PTSD service connection is remanded as there was insufficient verification of a contended in-service stressor. The Veteran has been provided with another VA examination, but no nexus opinion addressing the relationship between current major depressive disorder and service has been obtained.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral foot condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, low back condition, respiratory condition (Asthma), and right knee condition are remanded due to a lack of adequate VA examinations or nexus opinions.,PTSD service connection is remanded as there was insufficient verification of a contended in-service stressor. The Veteran has been provided with another VA examination, but no nexus opinion addressing the relationship between current major depressive disorder and service has been obtained.,The Veteran's claims for respiratory condition (Asthma) are remanded due to discrepancies between STRs regarding asthma history and the 2020 non-VA provider's opinion. The AOJ should obtain an addendum opinion to clarify whether the Veteran's current Asthma is related to service or pre-existed service.,The Veteran's claims for right knee condition are remanded as there was insufficient verification of a contended in-service stressor. The 2020 non-VA provider provided a nexus opinion, but it did not address or reconcile the Veteran's history of chronic daily alcohol use which can have similar symptoms to TBI.,PTSD service connection is remanded due to insufficient verification of a contended in-service stressor and lack of adequate VA examination. The AOJ should obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran has a current TBI or residuals related thereto.

The claims for service connection related to the endocrine system, hematologic and lymphatic systems, neurologic conditions and convulsive disorders, infectious diseases, immune disorders, and nutritional deficiencies have been dismissed. The Veteran's entitlement to service connection for sequelae of pericardial effusion, conduction abnormalities requiring ablation and pacemaker, and resultant heart failure, as well as esophagitis and GERD, has been granted.