Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has denied service connection for multiple musculoskeletal disabilities, including right shoulder, left shoulder, back, right knee, left knee, right shin splints, left shin splints, right hand, and left hand disabilities. The claims are based on the Veteran's active duty service in Afghanistan.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back condition, dental condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and bilateral foot condition, all related to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder of the left hand, back and stomach/abdominal area has been reopened. Service connection is granted for PTSD, depressive disorder and panic disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, residuals of circumcision (penile pain), metatarsalgia with hammertoe, right knee disorder and left knee disorder are all denied.

The Board has denied an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for a bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to several issues, including service connection for left lower extremity disorders and chronic kidney disease. The Veteran's current service-connected condition does not support a grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases due to issues related to scheduling a VA examination for assessing the severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee and right hip disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The cases of right knee and right ankle conditions, as well as the claim for a higher rating for left lateral malleolus avulsion fracture are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee disability, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, and hemorrhoids due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service. The cases are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for shoulder, bilateral knee, right ankle, and neck disorders due to new and material evidence submitted since the April 2005 rating decision. However, further development is needed as the VA examiners did not consider all relevant in-service treatment records and the nature of the current disabilities.

The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is granted a 10 percent rating. The Veteran's fibromyalgia prior to January 6, 2016, and Raynaud’s syndromes of the hands and feet are each granted a 20 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examination. The issues of service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, and evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for a service-connected lumbar strain are now before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is reopened, and the case is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding his right and left knee disabilities. The issue of secondary service connection for a left knee disability is also remanded.

The Board has determined that additional evidence should be obtained and considered in the claims for service connection for various conditions, including left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic infections of the right eye, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim is being remanded to allow for this development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete evidence and a need for further medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's medial meniscus tear with degenerative joint disease of the left knee is service-connected due to aggravation during active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence linking his current conditions to service. A VA examination is needed to determine if his knee replacements and arthritis are related to his military service.

Your claim for service connection regarding hernia has been reopened and is being remanded to determine if your current diagnosis of inguinal hernia is related to your active duty service.,Your claims for service connection regarding low back disability, left ankle disability, and right knee disability have also been reopened and are being remanded to determine the relationship between these conditions and your active duty service.

The Veteran's post-TKR right knee disability was rated at 30 percent prior to January 27, 2014. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating and remanded for further development.

The appeals for service connection have been granted, and the Veteran is now entitled to compensation for his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to higher disability ratings for right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected knee disabilities, including instability.