Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate VA examination reports and failure to provide adequate reasons and bases for the decisions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right knee and lumbar spine disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect the symptoms reported by the Veteran.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 13, 2011 for the grant of service connection for bilateral shoulder, back, bilateral knee, tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disabilities.

The Veteran's back condition, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral cataracts, peripheral vascular disease (left and right lower extremities), coronary artery disease post-CABG, left below-the-knee amputation, status post right 4th and 5th toe amputations with foot ulcers, recurring infections, psychiatric disorder, bleeding ulcers, left shoulder condition, and right shoulder condition are all found to be related to service. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is denied as there is no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during active duty.

The Board has restored the 10 percent ratings for left and right hamstring strains, but denied any rating in excess of 10 percent for these conditions. The ratings for left and right knee disabilities were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as his claims are not supported by the evidence of record.,Service connection for prostate cancer has been granted based on exposure to herbicide agents during service. The right knee condition and skin condition of the leg have been denied due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any other service-connected disabilities. Service connection for vertigo/dizziness has also been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's right wrist disability has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for left finger laceration, gout of elbows, feet and knees, and nephrolithiasis due to a duty to assist error in missing verification of the Veteran's active duty training dates.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive disorder; heart disorder; and right knee disorder. The Veteran's claims were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 30 percent, with a higher rating of 40 percent since March 1, 2019. The right knee disability remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee is being remanded due to a lack of supporting medical evidence. The AOJ must provide the Veteran with an opportunity to submit a statement from Dr. R.L., who provided a medical opinion during his Board hearing, and any other relevant private medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability, including during flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeals for depression and anxiety were dismissed. Bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the issues of bilateral knee disability and back disability are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral eye disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee. The case is now being remanded to readjudicate the issue of service connection for the left knee.

The Board has granted effective dates of August 3, 2012 for both the TDIU and DEA benefits based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection is granted for right knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee arthroplasty and left knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee arthroplasty.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for right and left knee disabilities, either directly as a result of his military service or secondarily to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Board has requested additional medical opinions and remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees, finding no evidence that these conditions were incurred during active service or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for arthritis of the right knee, left knee, and residuals of a meniscal cyst removal of the right knee are denied as they do not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond 10 percent.

The reduction from a 30 percent to a 10 percent disability rating for service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome was improper, and the prior 30 percent rating is restored.