Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for lumbosacral or cervical strain, right knee strain, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's attorney requested a remand for an examination and opinion regarding the nature, etiology, and current severity of his claimed left knee instability. The examiner should determine if the Veteran exhibits instability of the left knee and whether it is at least as likely as not that any current instability (1) was incurred in service; (2) is part and parcel of the service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease; or (3) is caused or aggravated by any service-connected disability, to include left knee DJD.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee condition, but the issues of rating in excess of 20 percent for right ankle achilles tendonitis with degenerative changes and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are incomplete and requests for these records have not been completed. The Veteran is also requested to provide any additional medical records from private providers, including Dr. Baldwin.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for the left knee disability, but the issue of secondary service connection for a left hip disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a left shoulder condition, bilateral knee conditions, and PTSD. The Veteran is also seeking an increased rating for his right shoulder disability and TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been denied.,Service connection for the right knee disability is denied as there was no in-service injury or disease. The claim for secondary service connection to the left knee disability lacks legal merit.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his skin disorder (claimed as scars) on the neck, face, arms, and upper body, and left knee disability. The Veteran will not receive a compensable rating for his left knee arthroscopy scars.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his skin disorder (claimed as scars) on the neck, face, arms, and upper body, and left knee disability. The Veteran will not receive a compensable rating for his left knee arthroscopy scars.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee injury is reopened, and he is granted an effective date of August 26, 1996. The appeal regarding Bell’s palsy with incomplete paralysis of the left cranial nerve remains pending as there was no final decision on this issue. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is remanded.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination and remanded the case due to the lack of probative value in the previous examiner's opinion. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which may be secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, as well as the relationship between his current disabilities and his service.

This decision dismisses the appeal for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction. It grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The appeals for service connection of various conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missing service treatment records. The Veteran reported injuries and breathing problems during service, which need to be verified through alternative sources.

The Board denied service connection for neck, left knee, right knee, right foot, lower back, and GERD disorders as the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of sleep apnea, and denied service connection for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, high cholesterol, migraine headaches prior to December 28, 2016, left knee disability, right knee disability, hypertension, and anxiety disorder.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches from December 28, 2016 onwards have been granted with a 30% rating. The effective date of the award has also been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of arthritis of the left and right knees, both secondary to her service-connected back disability. The decision stated that there was no evidence supporting a link between her knee disabilities and her service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's GERD with H. Pylori infection is granted an initial 10% rating, but his right knee scar is denied a compensable rating. The Board has ordered the Veteran to be examined for his claimed right knee condition and to provide etiological opinions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot disability, and neurological disabilities of the left upper and lower extremities have been granted. The specific diagnoses include bilateral chondromalacia of the knees, sagging of the arches (bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus), and possible cervical spine disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for reopening of his service connection claims for various conditions due to lack of new and material evidence.