Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of the appellant's cervical spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected medial strain of the right knee was denied as he failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in November 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. Further examination is required to determine if any diagnosed disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's request for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected left arm limitation of motion is remanded. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition, left hand and/or thumb condition, and sciatic nerve impairment of the left lower extremity are also remanded.,The Veteran's request for TDIU is inextricably intertwined with his pending claims and thus is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension and a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all issues due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has dismissed all the claims for service connection due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury and noting that the preponderance of the evidence did not support direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, which required a total knee arthroplasty in December 2014, is as likely as not caused by his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability have not been rated higher than the current noncompensable evaluations. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left total knee arthoplasty and hearing loss have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeals.

The appeal for service connection of a right shoulder disorder and instability of the left knee is dismissed.,The Veteran's PTSD rating remains at 70 percent, with no higher rating granted due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran is granted entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which include dysthymic disorder, right elbow strain, and right knee strain. The left knee disorder remains denied as not incurred in or related to active service.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The Veteran's service in the Persian Gulf War is also being considered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and he is granted service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and PTSD. The claim for right hip disability remains pending as new evidence has not been provided to reopen it. The rating for lumbar osteoarthritis needs to be reconsidered.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine. The case is now pending with instructions to obtain updated VA treatment records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between current low back issues and service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for residuals of a left tibia fracture is denied.,An initial 10 percent evaluation, but no higher, for the scar associated with the total knee replacement is granted.

The Board has determined that additional records are needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims, including for his acquired psychiatric disorder and skin disorders. The claims of back disorder, left knee disorder, bilateral foot disorder, cold injury residuals in the upper thigh area, and pediculosis pubis have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for arthritis of the knees and a back disability have been reopened, but denied on their merits. The claim for skin disease of the face has also been reopened, but denied on its merits.,The Veteran's laceration scar of the left lower leg remains remanded for further evaluation.