Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right knee disability may be related to his service-connected left knee sprain, but needs further examination and opinion to determine if it is permanently aggravated by the left knee sprain.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and a right knee disorder as secondary to his left knee disability. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, and thus remands the case for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a compensable initial rating for left inguinal herniorrhaphy due to new evidence received since the last decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his right total knee replacement was denied. The Board found that the evidence supported a 60% rating from October 1, 2010 to March 11, 2015 and denied any higher rating thereafter due to the amputation rule.

The Veteran's increased rating for left foot plantar warts with keratomas is granted, while a higher rating for right foot plantar warts with keratomas is denied. The Board has also remanded cases regarding service connection and TDIU due to hip and knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for a low back condition and right knee condition. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities, including a left knee disorder and surgical scars. The issues include rating adjustments for these conditions.

The Veteran's left and right knee patellar tendonitis were granted increased ratings, but the service connection for PTSD was remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities are rated as noncompensable for limited left leg extension and at 10 percent for anterior cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus tear with osteoarthritis. The Board finds a separate 20 percent rating is warranted for the left knee to account for locking, pain, and effusion.

The Board denied service connection for a left lower extremity disability and TDIU due to the preponderance of evidence showing that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service injury or service-connected knee disability.

The Board has ordered the Veteran to provide VA treatment records from January 25, 2005 to August 4, 2017. The appeal is being remanded due to this missing information.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for higher ratings on appeal due to a lack of recent medical evidence and because further examinations are needed to assess the current severity of his right knee disability and headaches.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The appeal seeking service connection for a left knee condition is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for muscle aches and joint pain, right knee disability, upper and lower back disability, respiratory disability (claimed as asthma), sleep disability (claimed as sleep apnea), heart disorder, headache disability, and irritable colon syndrome.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability due to new evidence or medical examination.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; service connection for a kidney condition to include a transplant; and service connection for left leg amputation below the knee. The remand is due to incomplete information or lack of clarity in the evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder. The issue is now remanded for further development, including obtaining an additional VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's right knee DJD and meniscus injury, fibromyalgia, right ankle strain, lumbar spine osteoarthritis with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and cervical spine DDD with right and left upper extremity radiculopathy have been granted ratings from specific dates. The Veteran is also receiving separate compensable ratings for instability and scars related to the right knee.