Knee decisions — 2018

Service connection for PTSD has been granted.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability have been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a middle finger of the right hand condition, back dorsal condition, left knee condition, and right ankle condition due to insufficient medical evidence. A VA examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and reduction of his right knee instability rating are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he has the education and training for sedentary administrative work.

The Veteran's appeal is mixed. The Board denied a higher rating for hypertension, but remanded the issues of increased ratings for bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disorder. The claims are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn due to his satisfaction with the TDIU and the granted rating for hypertension. The claims for service connection, initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for various conditions, and other issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of September 21, 2013, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's claim for a bilateral knee disability is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inextricability of his TDIU claim with other service connection claims. The TDIU issue will be deferred until all other claims are adjudicated.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and chronic yeast infections.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran's current disabilities to her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee, hip, and ankle disabilities due to conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran is also being asked to provide updated treatment records and undergo VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or any other valid theory of entitlement.

The Veteran's ankle and knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for updated VA treatment records and new examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining addendum opinions addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability aggravates his knee and psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and severity of his right knee disabilities, including whether a left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's ED is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and diabetes. His TDIU claim is also granted. The claims for fibromyalgia, left knee disorder, vision loss in both eyes, kidney stones, residuals of a TBI, RLS, and TMJ are dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the right knee disorder, left knee disorder and hypertension.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion is inadequate for adjudication purposes and remands the case to obtain a new examination. The Veteran should be examined by a VA knee specialist to determine if his current right knee disability, including chondromalacia patella, is related to service or secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claim for an initial, compensable disability rating for loss of teeth is denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, and acquired psychiatric disability.