Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted as service connected, and the line of duty determination for his 1975 motor vehicle accident is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, right knee disability, lower back disability, and right ring finger disability are all denied increased ratings.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right fifth metacarpal fracture, right knee limitation of flexion, and right knee instability have been denied. The Veteran is currently assigned a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability effective July 5, 2010.

The Board has ordered a remand for another VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, including any flare-ups and functional loss. The case will be readjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The right knee flexion and extension issues are not rated higher than the assigned percentages, while the right knee instability and semilunar cartilage condition receive separate ratings.

The Veteran's right knee condition, tuberculosis, and restrictive lung disease are all found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (hearing loss, major depressive disorder, left knee chondromalacia, and tinnitus) have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantial and gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee arthritis, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee and right hip disabilities have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability due to new and material evidence. The issues of increased ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis and instability, as well as rating for left total knee replacement are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence linking current diagnoses to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition is pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to outstanding VA treatment records and SSA records. The Veteran is also being asked to undergo a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has determined that additional medical examination and opinion are necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including bilateral foot, shin splint, left-hand, ankle, knee, and shoulder conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, including increased ratings and initial compensable evaluations for flexion limitations. The remand is due to incomplete VA examinations and the need for additional development of medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee and right ankle disabilities, finding that there is continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is related to service, and granted service connection. The claims for PTSD and low back disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for right knee instability is denied as the evidence does not more nearly approximate moderate recurrent instability or subluxation. The issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disability is granted, subject to controlling regulations governing the payment of monetary awards.

The Board denied the appeal as there was no timely substantive appeal filed regarding the issues of effective dates and ratings for various conditions, as well as service connection for head tumors, a left eye disability, and headaches.

The Veteran's spine and knee disabilities have not been evaluated since December 2015. The Board has ordered remand to obtain updated VA examinations for the spine and left knee, as well as any additional private care records.