Knee decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee pain as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% rating. The Veteran also meets the criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and left shoulder disabilities, but the issues of service connection for nocturia, right eyebrow laceration, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left and right knee laxity due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for specific phobia, situational type, was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee anterolateral meniscectomy and patellar chondromalacia was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a left leg injury and a disability manifested by diarrhea and vomiting are dismissed as there is no controversy at issue.,Service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tear, and biceps tendinitis is denied due to lack of evidence showing the conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left knee disabilities due to outstanding VA treatment records that have not been associated with the claims file. The Veteran is required to provide names and addresses of any relevant medical providers and updated VA treatment records are needed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of right and left knee disabilities has been withdrawn.,Service connection for migraine headaches and tinnitus have been granted, with the issue of diabetes being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, left hip disorder, low back disorder, and right shoulder disorder have been granted. The claim for gastritis with mild duodenitis is remanded.,Service connection has been established for sinusitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and his laceration of the right eyebrow does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran’s kidney condition requires additional records to be obtained before a determination can be made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence linking her claimed disabilities to her military service. The Veteran is advised to provide information about any private healthcare providers who have treated her for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased rating for left knee disability, service connection for glaucoma and prostate disorder, special monthly compensation (SMC), and service connection for lumbar spine disability have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for prostate disorder has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for glaucoma has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted, but the claim remains pending as it was previously denied in April 2000 and reopened based on new evidence. The claim is still denied due to lack of medical evidence linking the condition to service.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a left foot disability, obstructive sleep apnea, left ankle disability, right knee disability, and cervical spine (neck) disability have been remanded as further development is needed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for headache disability, traumatic brain injury (TBI), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been remanded as further development is needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee condition is granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine degenerative changes is remanded.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50% effective October 21, 2013.,Service connection for scars of the left foot and right knee is granted with an effective date of October 14, 2014.,Service connection for scars of the left ankle is granted with an effective date of February 7, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines prior to October 21, 2013 is denied.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been denied as his conditions do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by limitation of flexion and extension, was rated at 20 percent prior to December 15, 2008, and denied for higher ratings. From December 15, 2008 to November 27, 2018, the Veteran's left knee disability resulted in a limitation of flexion limited to 30 degrees, which was rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the appeals are remanded due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back disorder (claimed as secondary to bilateral pes planus), and bilateral knee disorder (claimed as secondary to bilateral pes planus).

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are remanded due to the need for a VA examination, as he was unable to attend the scheduled exam due to incarceration awaiting guardianship.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities, both of which are secondary to his service-connected left leg disabilities.