Knee decisions — 2018

The claim for service connection of a left knee disability is reopened, and the issues of rating for right knee disability and TDIU determination are remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection of left and right knee conditions. However, the claims are denied as there is no credible evidence linking the current knee conditions to active service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for bilateral knee disabilities need further examination and evaluation due to recent surgery.

The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 40 percent from March 16, 2018. The remaining issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee disability, right knee chondrocalcinosis, and psychiatric disability due to service-connected right knee disability. The effective date of service connection remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating for his left knee and service connection for his right knee, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected left knee. The AOJ must obtain an addendum opinion clarifying the basis of the earlier opinions on these matters.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to PTSD. The case is being sent back for a VA examination to determine if the sleep apnea is related to his active duty service or any service-connected conditions, and whether it is caused by medications used to treat other conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's knee disabilities and left arm disability.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, characterized as postoperative residuals of a left knee injury, is rated at 20 percent prior to April 19, 2016. A separate 20 percent rating for the same condition is granted since June 1, 2017.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a right knee, left tibia, or left wrist disability for which service connection can be granted. The Veteran's complaints have not been diagnosed as disabilities and the VA examiner found no functional impairment from his reported symptoms.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities with shin splints and PFB are rated at the maximum allowable under the rating schedule, and no higher ratings are warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability (ankylosing spondylitis) and denied service connection for right knee condition. The claim of increased rating for cervical spine disability is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the VA Form 9 was not received in a timely manner.,The Veteran has been granted certificates of eligibility for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence. The Veteran's hearing testimony indicates he continues to experience pain in these joints since his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip and left knee disabilities, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected right knee cellulitis. The Board found no current disability in either condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and nummular eczema require additional examinations to determine their current severity, as the most recent VA examinations are over six years old. The claims for increased ratings are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder, right elbow, and bilateral knee disabilities require additional examinations to determine their current severity. The cases are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of his right and left knee sprains are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for cervical spine, right knee, and left ankle disorders due to inadequate examinations in previous reviews.