Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for residuals of a cold injury, right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and various spine disorders have all been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions regarding these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, and lumbosacral strain due to inadequate consideration of relevant evidence in previous VA opinions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee condition has been reopened and is granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is denied.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.,Service connection for a heart condition is denied.,Service connection for a left hip condition is denied.,Service connection for a right hip condition is denied.,Service connection for a lower back condition is denied.,Service connection for skin issues is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea (claimed as sleep issues) is denied.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, joint pain, back disorder, tinnitus, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder are granted. However, the claim for lung disorder remains pending as no rating has been assigned.

The Veteran's right knee arthroplasty residuals were granted a 60 percent rating prior to July 15, 2019 and denied any rating in excess of 60 percent from that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her cervical spine disability and left knee condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The effective date request for migraine headaches was also denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral knee disability, and gastroenteritis. The new evidence received since the final denial is considered in conjunction with previous evidence of record and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to complications from a right hip fracture resulting from a fall. The claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits is dismissed as moot because DIC benefits are considered a greater benefit.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee disorder, left varicocele, epistaxis (claimed as nosebleeds), and migraine headaches due to insufficient examination opinions addressing the Veteran's lay evidence and medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral knee disabilities, neck disability, and other joint disabilities due to inadequate development and examination.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran’s claims for service connection for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for GERD prior to March 9, 2017 was granted. From March 9, 2017 onwards, the claim was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 60% rating under Diagnostic Code 7346.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis, asthma, an acquired psychiatric disability, a right knee disability, and a left shoulder disability due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's left knee disability is being reviewed for an increased rating, fibromyalgia from October 14, 2011 to October 13, 2016 remains in appellate status due to the increase in rating, and service connection for lupus is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his paralyzed true right vocal cord and left knee injuries are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Board has denied service connection for a right foot disorder, claimed as plantar fasciitis. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and cephalgia, neck disorder, back disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, left foot disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral lower extremity disorder, right leg disorder, and bilateral shin splints are all remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including increased ratings for various conditions and service connection for additional disabilities. The Veteran will need to undergo further VA examinations to determine the current severity of his existing conditions and whether he is entitled to service connection for new disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and TDIU was denied. The effective date of the 60% evaluation for left knee disability is July 29, 2013.