Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's left knee arthritis and meniscus impairment are granted as service connected. A 20 percent evaluation is granted for status post umbilical hernia repair, effective from August 3, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and the need for updated treatment records. The Veteran's right knee disability is rated under DC 5055, which requires a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability due to new and material evidence submitted since January 2009. However, the case is still pending as it was remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his cervical spine, left knee, and right knee disorders due to new evidence potentially being available.

The Board has ordered an examination to determine the likely etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, including whether it is related to service or his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's initial and higher ratings for right knee conditions are denied. He is granted a TDIU effective January 31, 2005.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), right shoulder disability, low back disability, and cervical spine disability. The remand requires additional examinations to address functional impairment and provide opinions on whether these disabilities are related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded all issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims for additional development. The dismissal of the claim for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder (also claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder) is due to a full grant of benefits in March 2018.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, sleep apnea, bilateral knee disability, hypertension, and acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease) due to lack of current diagnoses in the record.

The Veteran's tension migraine headaches are rated as 50 percent disabling, effective September 21, 2018. Effective January 24, 2014, the Veteran is also granted SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected PTSD and additional disabilities with a combined rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, including asbestos-related pleural scarring, is granted. For the period beginning April 21, 2012, a higher evaluation of 40 percent for posttraumatic arthritis of the right knee, status post right lateral meniscectomy, is granted.

The Board has decided to remand twelve service connection claims for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and verifying the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents. The remaining fourteen issues were previously denied in a November 2014 rating decision and require issuance of a statement of the case.

The Veteran's PTSD is not rated higher than 50 percent from May 31, 2012 to July 13, 2016.,Service connection for right hand disability and bilateral elbow disability are denied as they do not meet the criteria of a qualifying chronic disease or undiagnosed illness.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder, right knee disorder, and secondary service connection for a right lower extremity disorder. The conditions are found to be related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for left knee degenerative joint disease, residual of ACL tear and reconstructive surgery with history of instability is denied due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, and bilateral pes planus due to missing VA treatment records from 2014 to the present. These records are needed to properly assess the Veteran's conditions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder, lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, and right knee disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a left knee disability is granted. Service connection for a left foot disability, secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability, is also granted. The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his knee disabilities and back disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination as there is insufficient evidence on file regarding the current severity of the appellant's knee disabilities and GERD.