Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient explanation of the VA examination's findings and failure to address the December 2016 VA examiner’s conclusion regarding service connection for right foot and knee disorders. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records, undergo a VA examination, and identify any relevant non-VA medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The right and left knee disabilities are denied as not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the remaining issues including rating claims, TDIU claim, and psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as a TDIU rating prior to May 4, 2012, have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition was reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee osteoarthritis is related to his in-service combat-related injuries, thus granting service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right ankle, left ankle, right leg (formerly right knee), and left leg (formerly left knee) disabilities. The decision also denied a rating greater than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and service connection for fibromyalgia were denied. The claim for increased disability rating was denied in part, while the remanded issue of service connection for fibromyalgia is pending.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and a bilateral knee/leg disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left knee disorder, sleep apnea, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and fibromyalgia. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee instability, left and right knee arthritis, and allergies have been denied as the Veteran failed to cooperate with necessary VA examinations.,Specifically, his claim for increased rating of left knee instability was denied due to lack of cooperation in February 2019 VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examinations and the need for additional medical records. The Veteran's right knee disability is being reviewed again to determine if it is related to his service.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and back disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the Veteran's submission of SSA records and his contention that his left knee disorder has worsened. The appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for multilevel degenerative disc changes of the lumbar spine. The right knee disability claim is remanded due to a request to reopen a previously denied claim.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis is presumed to have existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.,The Veteran’s left shoulder, forearm sprain, and mandible disabilities are rated under the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are evaluated as 10 percent disabling. However, a separate 10 percent rating is granted for each knee instability. The Board finds that additional development is needed prior to final adjudication of the remaining claim for service connection for a back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied.,Service connection has also been denied for obstructive sleep apnea. The Board found that the current OSA did not have its onset during service.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and low back disabilities, finding that the Veteran did not meet the in-service requirement or provide a nexus between his current conditions and service.