Knee decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including left hip, right hip, right knee, headache, right upper extremity numbness, insomnia, and cervical spine disabilities due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has restored the original ratings for left knee instability and limitation of motion, both effective May 1, 2013. The reduction was improper due to lack of improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's initial rating for his left knee disability is not higher than 30 percent. The right knee and bilateral hearing loss issues have been remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disorders due to incomplete records from the appellant's Army Reserve service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and insufficient opinions regarding her lumbar spine, knee, skin condition, left sided sciatica, and right sided sciatica disabilities. The RO is instructed to obtain missing VA treatment records and request any service medical records from the Veteran. A new examination will be scheduled for the Veteran to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder, hip, foot, ankle, and knee disabilities as well as right ear hearing loss due to lack of current diagnoses and insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded all of the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for bilateral knees, shoulders, gout, dizziness (vertigo), sleep apnea, heart disorder, hypertension, hepatitis B, and residuals of a shrapnel wound. The AOJ is instructed to make appropriate requests to the SSA for records concerning the Veteran and to obtain clinical records from his in-service hospitalization.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hip and right knee disabilities, finding no new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine and right knee were caused by his service-connected left knee disability.,Service connection for DJD of the lumbar spine and right knee is granted as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability. The effective date is not specified in this decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence and requires an examination to determine if the Veteran's prescribed appliances and medications cause damage to her clothing.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disorder, allergies, and a right eye disorder due to insufficient medical opinions provided by VA. The Veteran's self-reported histories will be reviewed by an independent physician.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for left thigh and chronic sinusitis as they were fully granted in prior rating decisions. The claims of service connection for left hip strain and left knee strain are granted, with a finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service. The claim of service connection for low back disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims are being reviewed due to the need for additional evidence or clarification.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to address certain theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left knee disability and diabetes mellitus was denied.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus is not warranted based on the evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right leg disability and residuals of a right hand laceration due to an inaccurate factual premise in the June 2018 VA examiner's opinion. A new VA medical opinion is required considering all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus is denied as it already meets the maximum schedular rating. The case is remanded to determine if secondary service connection for left knee arthritis can be granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding private treatment records for a right knee disability. The Veteran is encouraged to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including psychiatric disability, right shoulder disorder, lumbar spine with associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, gastritis, knee disorders, and testicle pain. The Board has referred these issues for further adjudication due to the need for additional records from SSA.

The Veteran's left knee dislocated semilunar cartilage and patellofemoral syndrome are rated at 20 percent since July 15, 2004. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied prior to September 24, 2014.