Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the claims for right knee and back disabilities due to insufficient evidence, and a VA examination is required to determine if service connection can be established.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders are not related to his active service, but may be secondary to his service-connected ankle disabilities. The case is being sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The issues are being returned for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person due to his inability to dress, undress, or bathe himself as a result of his disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, including degenerative joint disease (DJD), due to inadequate examination and failure to obtain all relevant STRs.

The case is being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations as per a recent Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims decision.

The Veteran's Baker’s cyst, right knee is granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis. His bilateral hearing loss claim is denied. The ratings for his right and left knee disabilities are both granted at 10 percent.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is granted, and the claim is reopened.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disorder is granted, and the claim is reopened.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to procedural issues and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's death is noted, but DIC claim remains pending.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ankle, left knee, and back disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran will be provided with new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left hip disabilities, including as secondary to his service-connected right hip and/or right knee disabilities, need further development. The case is being sent back to the VA for additional examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability has been reopened, but the effective date remains August 13, 2014.,An earlier effective date for tinnitus is denied as no evidence prior to August 13, 2014 indicates an intent to pursue this claim.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher evaluations on several of his service-connected conditions, including degenerative disc disease with spondylosis, lumbosacral spine; left knee tendonitis; right knee tendonitis; left ankle strain; and right ankle strain. The appeal regarding unspecified depressive disorder was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back strain with degenerative changes, but denied service connection for his right knee condition. The low back condition is related to service, while there is no evidence linking the right knee condition to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate rationale in the previous VA examination, need for additional development including SSA records, and need for an addendum opinion from a medical professional.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee conditions, finding that the current diagnoses are not related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the increase in severity of his conditions. His TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the remanded claims.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a left knee disability has been granted. An initial increased rating of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability is granted effective January 27, 2016. For the period prior to May 12, 2015, an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the left ankle disability is denied. A 10 percent disability rating for the left ankle disability is granted beginning May 12, 2015. An increased rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to May 15, 2017, and in excess of 70 percent from May 15, 2017, is denied. For the period prior to May 15, 2017, entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a new VA medical examination of the Veteran's left knee.