Knee decisions — 2018

The Board found that the reduction of the disability rating for left knee instability from 20 percent to 0 percent effective April 1, 2018 was proper due to actual improvement in symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records, incomplete service personnel records, and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his right knee disability, headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is about the rating for his left knee extension disability, which was previously rated as 0 percent. The Board has decided to remand this issue due to lack of recent clinical records and a need for an updated examination.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's hypertension claim needs a VA medical opinion to determine if it pre-existed service or was aggravated by service, while his left knee disorder claim requires an addendum opinion to address whether any current condition is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions in a previous VA examination regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral knee condition is secondary to his service-connected back and hip conditions. The examiner needs to provide a more comprehensive opinion addressing both causation and aggravation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee pain, left ankle pain, and bilateral hearing loss due to a significant gap in medical records between service and VA treatment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right lower leg disability, but the issues related to his lumbosacral strain, headache disability, right patellar enthesophyte (right knee condition), and increased rating for left knee chondromalacia remain remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea were both found to have onset during service, leading to their grant of service connection. The Board also granted remand for further examination on the left knee disability and pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities require additional VA examinations and records to determine their current severity, and therefore remanded these issues for further action.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for service connection and SMC benefits. The appeals are remanded for further development on several issues, including service connection claims and rating determinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PVD, residuals of a right foot amputation, and left knee total replacement due to conflicting medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee chondromalacia, PTSD, and TDIU need to be remanded due to inadequate examinations and outstanding records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee arthritis and instability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and assessments.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, respiratory condition, high blood pressure, skin condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than schizophrenia). The reasons are to obtain missing personnel records and service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran's representative has withdrawn the appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for a left ankle disability and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral knee conditions due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to inadequate VA examination reports regarding functional loss during flare-ups and repeated use over time.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional opinions regarding his low back condition, left shoulder injury, neck condition, and dizziness or balance issues.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis.

The Veteran's increased disability rating for post-operative residuals of a left knee injury is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. A new examination is needed to assess the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected left knee disability.