Knee decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disability, residuals of tibia fractures, bilateral pes planus, and a compensable rating for bilateral shin splints.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder, right knee, and bilateral pes planus disabilities have not been properly evaluated since their initial rating decisions. The Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) has ordered additional examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to address the Veteran's claims of service connection, increased ratings, and initial increased rating for his right knee injury with degenerative joint disease and lumbar spondylosis and spondylolisthesis with degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is considered credible in reporting his symptoms, but further medical examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability prevents her from obtaining or following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and right hip disabilities was granted. He is now in receipt of separate ratings for his lower extremity radiculopathy and DJD of the knees.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and cervical spine disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,There is no credible evidence showing that the Veteran's current disabilities began during his military service or are related to any in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran is granted eligibility for financial assistance in purchasing one automobile and necessary adaptive equipment due to her service-connected disabilities affecting her lower extremities. She is also granted eligibility for specially adapted housing as she requires significant modifications to her home due to her service-connected conditions.

Your claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for left elbow arthritis, GERD, and left knee disability due to incomplete records and procedural issues. The Veteran's statements and missing evidence need to be considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for osteoarthritis, right knee and residual left-hand injury due to incomplete medical records and lack of an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his knee disability. The Veteran is also required to provide VA with any relevant private medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing Social Security Administration (SSA) records and need for clarification on the nature and etiology of his right knee, right ankle, cervical spine, lumbar spine, and coronary artery disease. The VA will obtain these records and provide further medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to new and material evidence. However, the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that these disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a bilateral leg/knee disability, to include as secondary to a bilateral foot disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a left knee condition and hypertensive vascular disease have been dismissed. The appeal for PTSD, to include as due to military sexual trauma, is remanded.

The Veteran's request to reopen a claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. Service connection is also granted for the acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder. The claims for TBI, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine condition, left knee disability, sleep disorder, and GERD are all remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated at 10% since the April 1, 2009 effective date of service connection. The Board found that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as he does not exhibit limitation of motion or other disabling conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations.

The Board has decided that the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, bilateral hip disability, left knee disability, bilateral eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus, trouble speaking, TBI, and headaches are remanded due to new evidence received after the last statement of the case.

The Board has found that the RO did not substantially comply with prior remand directives and therefore, the claims for increased ratings for service-connected residuals lumbar strain; left knee chondromalacia, status post arthroscopy; right knee chondromalacia; and headaches are being remanded. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with these issues.