Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, nor does he have ankylosis of his knees or hips. Therefore, he is ineligible for financial assistance in purchasing a vehicle and adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating prior to October 3, 2008 and a rating in excess of 30 percent thereafter for bilateral plantar fasciitis due to incomplete information from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The case is remanded to obtain updated treatment records, conduct VA examinations, and determine the current severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted service connection with a 10% evaluation in April 2013. The VA examiner conducted an inadequate examination, and the Board is unable to properly assess the current level of impairment due to the lack of information on pain levels and functional loss.

The Veteran's initial rating for his right knee degenerative joint disease with surgical scar is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a review of existing records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service.

The Veteran's PTSD, right and left knee disabilities were not granted increased ratings. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his right knee disability and scar has been remanded for further evaluation. The VA will obtain updated treatment records, conduct a new examination to assess the severity of his disabilities, and provide an appropriate rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disorder may be related to his service-connected right knee disability, and thus remands for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and separate compensable ratings were denied. The right knee disability was rated at 10% prior to March 28, 2011, and a separate rating of 10% for symptomatic removal of the semilunar cartilage was granted. The initial rating for the post-operative partial excision olecranon of the right elbow was granted but not in excess of 10%. A higher rating for limitation of pronation of the right elbow was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the appropriate ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities.,The Veteran has been granted increased ratings for some of his service-connected conditions, but remains entitled to higher ratings for others.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The VA has determined that the current evaluations do not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disorder, low back disorder, bilateral hip disorders, and bilateral knee disorders to include secondary to rheumatic fever due to an unresolved claim of service connection for rheumatic fever.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for left knee pain, bilateral hearing loss, back disability, skin lesions, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's tinea cruris and herpes zoster were granted service connection. The Board also found that the evidence was at least in equipoise for his other conditions, including right ear hearing loss disability, costochondritis, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, psoriasis, heart disability, hypertension, IBS, cholecystectomy, and thyroid disability.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left knee disability, a left shoulder disability, a low back disability, and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The back, knee, and psychiatric disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's current knee conditions are being evaluated again by VA medical personnel.

The Board dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions, including muscle spasms, lumbar and cervical spine disorders, hip, knee, ankle, and leg disorders, PTSD, GERD with chronic gastritis and duodenitis, and eczematous dermatitis. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered to be related to her military service.