Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the circumstances of the Veteran's fall and death, which is necessary to determine if his service-connected disabilities contributed to his cause of death.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and records are needed to properly adjudicate the service connection claims for bilateral knee disability, bilateral leg disability, glaucoma, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues. The hearing loss and dermatitis cases are still under review, as is the right knee disorder, asbestosis, sleep apnea, and lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for various disability ratings and service connection claims, including those related to right ear hearing loss, a right ring-finger disability, low back disability, right knee disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, and acute retinal necrosis of the left eye.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right knee disabilities due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including a new VA examination for the kidney disorder and additional examinations for other service-connected conditions. The Veteran's claims of increased ratings are also being considered.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right knee condition, hypertension, and heart condition (coronary artery disease) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracic strain, degenerative disc disease of cervical spine, left ankle strain, and left knee patellar femoral pain syndrome as there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of extending a temporary total rating and increasing the rating for the Veteran's right knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding therapeutic immobilization or continued use of crutches during the relevant period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and a compensable evaluation for a scar at the back of the head. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA Scars Examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected scar, and his claims will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and dismissed his appeal regarding his right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee genu varus and right foot bunion due to inadequate medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's right ankle disability and other joint pain conditions are being remanded for further development. The issues of increased rating, compensable rating, service connection, and TDIU will be addressed after the additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and requests for additional development, including obtaining medical records from his former employers.

The Board finds the July 2012 VA examination report to be incomplete and remands for additional development, including a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records from private facilities where he received treatment. The VA must request copies of his records from these facilities and provide him with an opportunity to respond.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include rating an initial claim for right clavicle fracture, service connection for left shoulder disorder, right knee strain, right hamstring disorder, left hamstring disorder, low back disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition is granted. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received, allowing the reopening of the previously denied claim.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, right elbow and ear surgical scars, bilateral inner ear scars, bilateral hearing loss, left-hand ring finger disorder, left thigh disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, low back disorder, and left foot disorder have all been granted based on service connection being presumed due to in-service noise exposure, surgeries, and continuous symptoms since separation.