Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a TDIU was denied as he is already in receipt of the earliest possible effective date, April 1, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disorders, but the claim is still pending as ratings have not yet been assigned. The TDIU before November 26, 2010, remains remanded.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for PTSD has been granted. The issues of service connection for depression and PTSD, TBI, post-operative chondromalacia of the right knee, varus and valgus laxity of the right knee, low back strain, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are remanded.

The Board has decided that further examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to service or secondary to his service-connected chronic lumbar strain.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination in June 2015, which did not address the severity of left knee flare-ups and their impact on function.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his service, specifically excessive running during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee and ankle conditions due to inadequate VA examinations. The claims will be reconsidered with new examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a left knee injury, to include instability, and initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee DJD have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee status-post ACL reconstructive surgery was granted with an effective date of March 26, 2007. This decision is based on a line of duty determination letter from November 6, 2008.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral degenerative changes of the knee. The claims for service connection for chronic rhinitis and an initial compensable rating for a deviated nasal septum are denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for recurrent prostatitis was granted. The claim for bilateral knee disability was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and total disability rating based on service-connected disability due to inadequate examinations and further development of evidence is required.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for myelitis (claimed as Guillain Barre syndrome), migraines, a low back condition, left knee chondromalacia patella and degenerative arthritis, and right knee chondromalacia patella and degenerative arthritis. The appeal is not about the initial rating for bilateral hearing loss or service connection for malaria.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and left foot or ankle disabilities as well as an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety disorder and PTSD) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left knee, neck, right shoulder, and left shoulder disorders. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for a right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for back problems, right knee disability, bilateral ankle condition, stomach problems, anxious symptoms, and sleep problems must be remanded due to incomplete or insufficient evidence. The issues of whether his neurological symptoms are related to his service-connected left knee disability also need to be addressed.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for hypertension and remanded the service connection claims for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees due to conflicting evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was reopened, and he is now granted secondary service connection for a right shoulder disability due to his cervical spine disability. The rating for ocular rosacea with chronic conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and dry eye syndrome remains at 10 percent. A separate rating of 20 percent is granted for bilateral lacrimal duct disorder. Other issues are remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to new and material evidence, but the issue is remanded for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records from Panama City, Florida and providing a medical opinion on the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not service-connected as it did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge and there is no evidence linking it to his military service.