Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and additional development is needed.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence. The claims for initial ratings for right knee disability and PTSD are remanded as there is insufficient examination records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee and low back disabilities, finding that there is no evidence linking the right knee condition to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability with bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and an increased rating for his right knee disability, both currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of left knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, status post arthroscopy was denied because he failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in August 2015 without good cause.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis of both knees have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a parathyroid tumor removal has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability and reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's right ankle disability is found to be related to his active duty service. Service connection for joint pain, intestinal disability, skin disability, and sleep apnea are also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension, but has remanded the cases of cervical spine disability, low back disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities. However, it was determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as pain disorder, is granted. Right ear hearing loss is also granted. However, left ear hearing loss and hyperlipidemia are denied.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities are rated at a maximum of 60 percent, including a separate rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage. The other conditions do not warrant additional increased ratings.

The Veteran's left knee disability, rated at 10 percent for instability, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination as per recent court decisions.

The Veteran's initial rating for right knee osteoarthritis was denied, and the claim for service connection of a right ankle disorder secondary to his right knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's disability ratings for left knee DJD with limited extension, right knee DJD with limited extension, and residuals of right ankle sprains were restored to their previous levels.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee strain, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, due to service-connected lumbar strain, cervical strain, and posttraumatic tension-type headache and cervicogenic pain. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence received since the January 2013 Statement of the Case, including a September 2017 VA examination. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is being returned to the RO for further consideration.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including a meniscal tear with frequent episodes of locking and joint pain, is rated at 20 percent since August 2015. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left knee remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder due to lack of evidence showing it is related to his in-service right knee disability. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and extent of his service-connected right knee disability, including any new diagnoses.