Knee decisions — 2019

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of right hip and right knee disabilities due to the Veteran's withdrawal before a decision was made.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for TMJ dysfunction with bruxism and remanded the issues of entitlement to a TDIU and right knee disability. The case is being remanded again due to inconsistencies regarding the Veteran's right knee flare-ups.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and his active service or any service-connected disability.,The Board also remanded the issues regarding right knee and hip disabilities due to insufficient opinions in the most recent VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left and right knee disabilities, a right ankle disability, residuals of a groin injury, and GERD. The cases are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, it denied these claims as there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service occurrence that would support service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee pain, bilateral ankle pain, low back pain, and insomnia due to outstanding treatment records and a need for medical opinions regarding the nature and origin of his disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for reentrance into the VA vocational rehabilitation and employment program, finding that his service-connected disabilities have not worsened to the extent that he is precluded from performing work duties or that the occupation previously found rehabilitated is unsuitable.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for sinusitis and granted a rating of 30 percent for residuals of right great toe fracture. The remaining issues have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has granted a separate rating of 10 percent for left knee extension limitation under Diagnostic Code 5261, effective from March 26, 2012. The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Codes 5257 and 5260.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar, bilateral hip, and left knee disabilities due to additional development being required.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his PCL knee injury and resulting arthritis, finding that it is at least as likely as not due to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, a left leg disability resulting in amputation, and a kidney condition due to diabetes mellitus. The diagnoses are based on the Veteran's complaints of pain from his back disability leading to weight gain and obesity, which aggravated his diabetes. The Board also found that the Veteran’s diabetes mellitus was aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right knee disabilities due to new evidence and additional examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent from October 1, 2015, to April 23, 2017, and in excess of 30 percent from June 1, 2018, for a right knee disability, as well as the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to August 7, 2018, and in excess of 30 percent from October 1, 2019, for a left knee disability. The Veteran needs to undergo another VA examination to determine the current severity and frequency of his right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is dismissed as he withdrew the issue from appeal.,Service connection for left and right knee conditions, diagnosed as patellofemoral pain syndrome, is granted due to continuity of symptomatology since service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive disorder with alcohol dependence, is granted based on credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and a current diagnosis of PTSD.,Service connection for traumatic brain injury is granted due to a documented in-service skull fracture.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of right and left knee disabilities, radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and a cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision. Service connection for low back condition, bilateral hip condition, bilateral knee condition, and bilateral foot condition are granted as secondary to her service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for a left shoulder disability as it was granted in a July 2019 rating decision, resulting in a full grant of the benefit sought on appeal. The right and left knee disorders are remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to failure to attend a VA examination, and requests another examination for service connection of a bilateral knee disability.