Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected left and right knee disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a right leg condition was initially denied due to the condition being considered congenital. The Board has now remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the nature of his diagnosed conditions, their etiology, and whether they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right wrist, left wrist, right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and foot conditions. The VA is instructed to obtain medical records from Drs. C.A., D.G., and Occupational Health Cape Fear. Additionally, a new examination is required to determine if the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions and whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for left hip strain was granted with a 10% rating, and his left knee ACL reconstruction was also rated at 10%. The 20% rating for the left knee was reduced to 10% effective April 11, 2014. However, the reduction is denied as it did not reflect an improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of work and life.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination reports, and ordered a new examination for the Veteran's left knee and right knee degrative joint disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbar strain and left knee tendonitis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The appeal regarding initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids is also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability, right big toe disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there is no evidence of current disabilities or that they are related to military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete service records from his Air Force Reserves.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation and rating consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disorder, finding that there is credible evidence of an in-service injury and post-service residuals.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for right knee and leg disabilities, as well as TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and left lower extremity neuralgia, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions being incurred or aggravated by her service-connected right sacroiliac joint dysfunction with chronic low back strain.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent, and the appeal for an increased rating remains pending. The Board has also remanded two issues: service connection for bilateral upper peripheral neuropathy and a higher evaluation for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a right total knee replacement was previously denied in June 2013 due to lack of evidence showing VA error, and the Veteran did not appeal within one year.,New evidence received since June 2013 includes statements from a VA physician indicating additional surgeries were performed due to complications following the initial surgery. The Veteran also provided testimony about delays in scheduling physical therapy post-surgery.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing left knee condition was aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the most recent VA examinations for the Veteran's service-connected right hip tendonitis, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and torn medial meniscus, right knee are inadequate. Therefore, the claims must be remanded to obtain new examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the submission of additional evidence after the most recent Statements of the Case. The AOJ will clarify the Veteran’s desires regarding his restored ratings, as well as his satisfaction with the rating assigned for GERD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bilateral knee degenerative joint disease are found to be so severe that they prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee conditions, hypertension, PFB, jungle rot, and a skin disorder on the left scalp. The Veteran's reports during his hearing will be considered in determining the etiology of these conditions.