Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, specifically concerning pain and functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating allowed by law for a non-compensable condition with associated painful motion and limited flexion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee pain was reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms began in service, are related to his military duties, and meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite and left knee meniscus tear due to the unavailability of his service treatment records. The Veteran must undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and patellofemoral syndrome, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus has been granted. The right knee disorder claim is reopened, but the initial compensable rating for headache disorder remains pending as it requires further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted a rating of 30 percent effective March 14, 2017. The left knee disability and right knee disability were both denied higher ratings. The back disability was also denied higher ratings.

The Veteran's left knee joint osteoarthritis with chondromalacia, status-post meniscal tear is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of extension. A separate 10 percent rating has been granted for painful limitation of flexion.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee, right knee, low back, and left ankle conditions due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities or any nexus between the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left knee patellofemoral syndrome is remanded due to a lack of proper range of motion testing in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities are being remanded for further examination and rating consideration due to the lack of recent VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after a previous denial, and also because further examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is related to his service.

The Board has remanded the issue of TDIU due to the inextricably intertwined issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep condition and memory loss. The Veteran's current combined evaluation is at 60 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee arthritis, hypertension, sleep apnea, intermittent rectal bleeding, reflux disorder, low normal platelet count, and papillary hyperplasia. The appeals are REMANDED for further development regarding skin tags and lesions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee, right knee, left hip, and right hip disorders is granted. However, his claims for TDIU are denied due to the presence of nonservice-connected health problems.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hearing loss, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability due to incomplete examination reports. The Veteran's right knee patellar tendonitis is also being remanded for a new VA examination.,For the increased rating claim for patellar tendonitis of the right knee, additional VA medical records are needed, as well as a new VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left and right knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims. The Board found that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or illness related to any claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for DMII, a heart disability, an eye disability, and a right knee disability due to incomplete opinions regarding preexisting conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen his claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient medical evidence.