Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his right knee disability, as the previous examination did not adequately address the frequency and duration of flare-ups.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disorder (including osteoarthritis) and denied service connection for a neck disorder (including cervical strain). The Veteran's current bilateral knee disorder is related to his in-service injuries, while the preponderance of evidence does not support finding that his current neck disorder was incurred in or otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for spine and left knee disabilities due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as his combined rating is less than 70% and he can still secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's PFB and left knee patellofemoral syndrome have been rated based on their current manifestations, with no effective date prior to September 10, 2012.,Both conditions are currently rated at the lowest possible percentage (0%) under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of a right knee disorder, initial evaluations for left knee replacement, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, but denied service connection for his left and right knee disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected degenerative changes of the right knee with scars is remanded due to inadequate examination and need for additional records.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability due to its change in state since her last examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling since November 13, 2014. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of objective clinical findings of instability and pain during flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and Barrett's Esophagus as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, glaucoma, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and an uncompleted VA examination for evaluating the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's hip and knee disabilities, as well as his lumbar strain. The main issues are for a higher rating in excess of 20 percent for various hip and knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if his conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right-hand contusion, residuals of a varicocelectomy, chronic lumbar myofascial strain, and bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not support current diagnoses or a link to military service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic bronchitis, left ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims. The Board found that there is no link between any of the disabilities and active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, left knee strain with arthralgia, and right knee strain with arthralgia. The acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service, the knee conditions were noted as chronic in service, and there is continuity of symptoms since service.