Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's left knee DJD was granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for limitation of flexion from April 11, 2017. The right knee DJD also received a separate 10 percent evaluation for limitation of flexion as of that date. No other ratings were changed or denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his left knee disability, throat and skin conditions. The RO is instructed to obtain VA treatment records from Pittsburgh and/or Oakland VAMC facilities from 1967, as well as any private records not already associated with the file. A VA examination will be scheduled to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed skin condition, including whether it is related to service or herbicide exposure. Additionally, a PTSD examination will be conducted to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess the severity of his spine and knee conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on headaches is dismissed. The right hip condition and endometriosis are granted, but the left knee degenerative lateral meniscus and wrist carpal tunnel syndromes remain at their current ratings. A TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder was dismissed. The Board also remanded the cases of degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine; right thigh disability; and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for osteoarthritis of the left knee and instability of the left knee are being remanded due to new evidence and need for a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals to establish clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the June 1997 and July 2007 RO rating decisions that denied service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint disease and bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, respectively. The claims were based on direct service connection without any presumption or secondary relationship.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal of the issues regarding service connection for left shoulder and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, hip, and hip replacement are being remanded due to new evidence received since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension, claimed as high blood pressure, is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability and left knee strain, and denied his claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee total knee replacement.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and insomnia due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during active duty. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition due to a lack of evidence showing an increase in severity beyond its natural progression during service. The issue of service connection for the right-hand condition is remanded for clarification.

The Board denied initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for bilateral shoulder disabilities, lumbar strain, degenerative disc disease (cervical spine), chondromalacia of the left knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and right ankle disability. The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee condition, erectile dysfunction associated with chronic prostatitis, and initial compensable ratings for sinusitis with epistaxis (claimed as nose bleeds), environmental allergies, and sinus headaches due to incomplete information or need for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and low back disabilities due to lack of current diagnoses. The Veteran's subjective complaints were not supported by objective evidence.

The Board has denied a temporary total evaluation for 13 months due to the Veteran's partial knee replacement surgery. The case is remanded for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for his left knee disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is already at the maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent. The right knee disability and psychiatric disorders are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, right hip, and left ankle disorders due to in-service treatment. The Veteran's leg length discrepancy was less than 1.5 inches, which limits the ability to establish a relationship between his knee disorder and other joints.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including shoulder, back, neck, hip, knee, foot, otosclerosis, tinnitus, heart, prostate, thyroid, diabetes, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The reasons given are that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.