Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining Navy Reserve treatment records and Tricare treatment records. A new VA examination is also needed.

The Veteran seeks service connection for patellar tendinosis of his left knee, which he contends is related to a prior injury during service and worsened by his service-connected right knee condition. The Board finds the existing medical opinion inadequate and remands the case for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for acne, but did not address other issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding no current diagnosis and concluding that his reported symptoms do not constitute a disability. The appeal to reopen the previously denied claim was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee disabilities and consideration of entitlement to a TDIU prior to August 1, 2011.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating based on limitation of flexion to 30 degrees. The Veteran was granted a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss disability, and right foot sensory deficit. The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are found to be related to his service-connected pes cavus. For the entire appeal period, the criteria for a 100 percent rating for chronic adjustment disorder with mixed depression and anxiety have been met.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective March 1, 1977. The Board denied an evaluation in excess of this rating for the lumbar spine disability and denied service connection for bilateral knee disabilities as secondary to the lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder tendonitis and rotator cuff tear, obstructive sleep apnea, and lumbar strain with DDD and bulging discs. The claim for a right knee disability was withdrawn by the Veteran during his hearing before the Board.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of low back disorder, left knee joint disorder, left leg/ankle disorder, and left knee scar as they were not related to his military service.

The Board determined that the December 1999 rating decision assigning a single 10 percent rating for bilateral knee disorder was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.,Service connection is granted for an eye disorder (dry eyes).

The Board has granted service connection for undiagnosed left knee, right knee, and back disorders as due to a qualifying chronic disability under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1117.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations and re-adjudication.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as her service-connected left knee disorder did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent based on injury to semilunar cartilage or limitation of motion/arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his active service and have denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain, right ankle strain, and left ankle strain. The appeal is now resolved in favor of the Veteran.