Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for low back disability and sleep disorder, as well as rating claims for traumatic arthritis of the right and left knees, neck injury with spondylosis and DJD, and left great toe amputation. Additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities or if they were aggravated by them.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of November 29, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for tendinitis and mild degenerative arthritis of the left and right wrists.,The Veteran's current left knee disability is less likely than not related to his active service, as it is more likely due to age-related degeneration. The same reasoning applies to the bilateral wrist disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric condition. The decision found that new evidence did not reopen the claim for a left knee disability, and that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the back, bilateral knees, and neck, as well as his claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The denial was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and recurrent mixed headaches are currently rated at the maximum allowed under their respective diagnostic codes. The low back disability, left eye disability, right knee disability, and hypothyroidism do not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection is remanded for claims related to a right wrist disorder (carpal tunnel syndrome), neck disorder, right shoulder disorder (secondary to recurrent mixed headaches), acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD), and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of your appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability and remanded it for further development. The psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder) claim is also being remanded, but the hypertension rating claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in November 2015 was inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted due to exposure to loud noise during service and continuous symptoms post-service. The right and left knee disorders are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their relationship to service-connected back disability.

The Board has determined that the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability must be remanded due to conflicting medical evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, headache disability, and anxiety disorder are all granted. The claim for an increased evaluation of the Veteran's anxiety disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee chondromalacia, right knee chondromalacia, and lumbosacral strain as additional evidence is needed to assess their severity.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is granted service connection. The low back and chronic sleep disabilities are denied as not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, retinal detachment in the right eye, lipomas (skin condition), and a right knee disability due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. The issues are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted for cervical spine disability, left knee disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The appeals for thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disability are still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confine him substantially to his dwelling and immediate premises, thus denying special monthly compensation benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims for a left knee disorder and right knee disorder, including as secondary to a left knee disorder due to incomplete or inaccurate medical opinions in the file. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any outstanding private treatment records and conduct a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for a right knee disability because no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of an ankle disorder secondary to his right knee disability and for increased ratings for his right knee instability and status post MCL repair with mild laxity. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current ankle disorder or right knee conditions to his service-connected disabilities.