Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and bilateral pes planus due to inadequate examinations. The VA is required to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any right knee disorder, as well as the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder, right knee chondromalacia patella, and left knee chondromalacia patella are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence that has not been reviewed by the RO.

The Board denied the petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to the service-connected left total knee replacement due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims and granted service connection for left knee tendinitis, left hip tendinitis, and fibromyalgia as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, thumb, and ring finger disabilities as well as residuals of a left wrist fracture. The decision also noted that the Veteran's current left wrist disorder was not shown to be related to his service-connected right knee or left ankle conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied service connection for psoriatic arthritis and joint deterioration of the left knee, but denied the claim itself as there is no evidence showing a direct link between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's temporary total evaluation following his January 2013 left knee surgery is denied because the surgery was for a new injury unrelated to his service-connected condition, and did not require hospitalization or convalescence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim for a higher rating for his left total knee replacement.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for left knee, right ankle, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities as secondary to service-connected conditions. As a result, the issues are dismissed.

Service connection for depression, substance abuse, and sleep disorder has been dismissed.,Service connection for cardiovascular disorder is denied.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities remains pending and will be remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection for right hip disability to include as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain remains pending and will be remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection for left hip disability to include as secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain remains pending and will be remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection for knee joint pain to include as due to an undiagnosed illness remains pending and will be remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection for respiratory disorder to include as due to an undiagnosed illness remains pending and will be remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disability, acute lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease, and bilateral upper and lower back teeth due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service stressors and continuity of symptomology will be considered.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA with the Massachusetts Army National Guard. The Veteran will be provided a VA examination to determine the etiology of his right knee disability.

The Board denied a TDIU for the period prior to April 16, 2012, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral knee disabilities was denied as no claim to reopen the issue was received prior to March 29, 2011.

The Board has granted an extension of the temporary 100 percent rating for convalescence after left knee surgery and restored the Veteran's original 30 percent rating for his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for a left knee disability is granted. The appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for a left foot disability is denied. His claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and prostate cancer are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of patellofemoral syndrome and bursitis, left knee, and vertigo (secondary to hypertension).

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of service-connected PTSD, TBI, left wrist condition, left knee condition, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations are also being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been established, and the appeal for service connection of recurrent lumbar spine disorder, recurrent right knee disorder, and right neck scar is remanded due to lack of VA examinations addressing these claims.

The Veteran's right hip and right knee disabilities are granted as service-connected.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for digestive system disability including GERD with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is denied.