Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left knee DJD, as well as his TDIU claim prior to February 2, 2017. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate range of motion testing in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee pain, as well as the reopening of service connection claims for torn left ankle ligament and residuals from a right ankle fracture due to incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's complete medical records are requested.

Your left knee disability, including instability and arthritis with painful flexion, is rated at 30% effective November 9, 2010. Your left olecranon (elbow) disability is rated at 20% effective May 16, 2008.,The Board has remanded your claims for service connection for right shoulder, low back, and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and genital herpes due to additional development of his medical records.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the left knee post-operative residuals of an injury to the left meniscus, finding that the symptomatology did not more nearly approximate severe subluxation or instability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee and hip disorders as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected multilevel degenerative joint disease of the spine, finding that there was no evidence supporting a link between these conditions and her back disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and hypertension, finding that the conditions did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period or continuity of symptomatology was not established. The Veteran's current disabilities are considered to be due to his civilian occupation as a corrections officer.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service connected. Service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disorders are restored due to improper severance of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus warranting a TDIU rating. The increased rating claim for the right tibia and fibula fracture is remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete evidence and a canceled hearing. The claims for bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, degenerative joint disease lumbar spine, right ankle disorder, coronary artery disease (claimed as heart attack and heart problems), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee disability due to new medical evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and rating considerations.

The Board has decided to remand three issues: service connection for a left knee disorder, residuals of frostbite of the toes, and depression. The Veteran's claims are being sent back for further examination and review.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for knee and foot disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after further examination and review of the evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as his left hip disability. The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU based on these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were dismissed as he withdrew them. The claim of entitlement to a TDIU was granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's preexisting left knee disability was aggravated by service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for his left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue regarding an acquired psychiatric disability is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various musculoskeletal disorders, including left and right shoulder, cervical spine, hip, knee, ankle, and foot conditions. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine injury with subsequent osteoarthritis (curved spine), pinched nerve of the cervical spine, mild degenerative changes in the left leg and knee, and prostate cancer, preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. As a result, his claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on PTSD and right knee disabilities, as well as the TDIU claim, are being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examinations.