Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service and his current bilateral knee osteoarthritis. Additional examination is needed.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for retrospective medical opinions regarding his undiagnosed illness and its relationship to service.

The Board has reopened claims for service connection for back condition, left eye condition, GERD, acquired psychiatric disorder, arthritis, right leg pain, and left ankle pain. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for impairment of the right knee is remanded, as is the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for Osgood Schlatter's Disease of the right knee.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, bilateral ankle degenerative arthritis, and right hip degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection of the claimed conditions. The issues are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations to determine appropriate disability ratings for the Veteran's knee and back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, neck, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of VA treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide more specific information about his private and VA treatment from the 1980s and 1990s.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right wrist, left and/or right knee, and headache disorders due to a lack of competent evidence showing current disabilities related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability and hypertension has been reopened. The new evidence supports reopening the claims, but both conditions are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board denied service connection for OSA, bilateral hip trochanteric tendonitis, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The right knee disability case is remanded.

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for left knee instability and osteoarthritis, finding that the symptomatology did not more nearly approximate severe subluxation or instability.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disorders, as well as a bilateral knee disorder. The AOJ is required to verify any periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA that are not already confirmed, and then schedule the veteran for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his spinal and knee conditions.

Right knee osteoarthritis is granted as secondary to service-connected right ankle fracture with degenerative joint disease.,Tinnitus is granted as incurred in service.,Cervical disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected thoracolumbar strain.,Shortened right leg is granted as secondary to service-connected right ankle fracture.,Sinusitis is granted as incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal for shin splints was dismissed as she requested withdrawal of the appeal. The Board also remanded issues regarding left knee and bilateral foot disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee chondromalacia, finding that it is related to a 1962 in-service injury.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by painful motion and degenerative joint disease (DJD), has been rated at a minimum of 10 percent since August 28, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The left knee sprain, left Achilles heel spur, and left great ingrown toenail are each rated at the minimum compensable levels (10%). The left lower extremity sciatic nerve dysfunction and femoral nerve dysfunction remain rated at 20%.

The Veteran's claim for left knee disability has been reopened, but the issue remains remanded due to a need for further development.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD was previously denied and reopened. The Board finds that service connection is warranted based on evidence linking current symptoms to in-service stressors.,The right knee disability claim is being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the left knee disability claim.,The Veteran’s COPD rating remains at 30 percent, but a new VA examination is needed to determine if an increased rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals. The Board has also remanded cases related to hereditary exostosis and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the initial rating for tinnitus is denied as there is no legal basis to award a higher schedular evaluation. The issues of service connection for fibromyalgia, CFS, headaches, CTS, restless leg syndrome, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.