Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the VA opinions are inadequate and requires new opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back condition and right knee condition. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for a left knee post-operative left medial meniscectomy with arthritis, other than instability is denied. The current diagnosis of the Veteran's left knee disability more closely warrants the already assigned 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to incomplete medical records from VA St. Louis Healthcare System for 1970 to 1993, and additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, hypertension, bilateral knee disabilities, and a sleep disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for diabetic nephrosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, type II, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity have been dismissed. The Veteran also requested to withdraw his appeal for TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, ankle, and back disabilities as the Veteran did not have any of these conditions during his active duty or at any point during the appeal period.,Service connection was granted for left knee arthritis and right knee arthritis. The Board found that the current diagnoses were related to service due to a significant progression of the left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD is denied as there was no prior claim filed before July 23, 2012.,Service connection for a right foot disability and neck disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, sleep apnea, and hypertension are all found to be secondary to his service-connected skin and knee disabilities. The left knee disability is granted with a 30% rating effective December 11, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder degenerative arthritis, bicipital tendon tear, and shoulder impingement syndrome, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative changes. The appeal regarding hypertension is remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for SFW of both hands, bilateral hip disabilities, cervical spine disability, left knee disability and right eye macular hole with visual defect. The evidence received since the last final rating decisions raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, as well as his GERD and depressive disorder have been evaluated but none of the conditions meet the criteria for a higher rating.,All issues related to increased ratings for the Veteran's knee disabilities, GERD, and depressive disorder were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee, ankle, and left foot disabilities. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic arthritis of the left ankle, right and left knee chondromalacia, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the entire period from June 2, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for right leg pain, finding that his claimed condition is already considered in his existing service-connected disabilities (right knee, hip, and ankle).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new examination as the previous one did not comply with VA requirements and was based on incomplete information.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were restored to a 30 percent rating, effective February 5, 2016. Other ratings remained unchanged.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back and right knee conditions. The claims for service connection are not granted as there is no current disability found.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoporosis of the right knee due to insufficient evidence from a previous VA examination. The Veteran will need to undergo another examination to determine his current disability level.