Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, the case is still pending as it needs further examination to determine if his current condition is related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current osteoarthritis and service.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of increased rating for right knee disability, service connection for depression, obstructive sleep apnea, kidney disability, and hypertension. The Veteran is also required to provide updated information regarding his entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and left ankle disorder have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,The Veteran's claim for fibromyalgia has also been reopened.

The Board has remanded the issue of temporary total ratings for a service-connected left knee disability due to convalescence following surgeries in 2013 and 2014. The case will be returned to the agency for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right rib and right knee disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran testified that he has had continuous pain from military service until now, which must be considered in forming the opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for tension headaches and knee conditions due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to provide more information about his treatment, and a new examination is required to assess the severity of his headache disability and the nature and etiology of any knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disease and bilateral knee disability due to missing records from his active duty service. The VA will request additional records, including those from his current Reserve service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since October 1, 2014. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability effective January 1, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gout, a foot disability (claimed as trench foot), left ankle and right ankle disabilities, and left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is granted. Service connection for thyroid, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic renal disease, erectile dysfunction, vertigo, and chronic fatigue syndrome are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for heart disability, right knee replacement, left knee replacement, and melanoma and related residuals as there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus with calcaneal spurs has been reopened and granted. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for back, right knee, left knee, and bilateral ankle conditions secondary to bilateral pes planus.,Service connection is being remanded for the Veteran's claimed back condition, bilateral ankle condition, and bilateral knee conditions as they are secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus with calcaneal spurs.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being necessary prior to appellate review, including a VA examination and referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of TDIU.

The Board has remanded two cases regarding the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees, requesting additional clarification on the examiner's assessment of functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to inadequate range of motion assessment during flare-ups, as well as discrepancies in the number of surgical scars on the left knee. The Veteran's complaints regarding functional loss due to flare-ups need to be addressed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lower back, left knee, and right knee conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis and a left leg disorder, including left knee instability and radiculopathy, are granted. The left leg disorders are secondary to his newly service-connected back disability.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed for the Veteran's PTSD, left shoulder disability, left knee degenerative arthritis, epidermal cyst, and lichen simplex chronicus due to potential worsening of symptoms. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for these conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's right-knee disorder was found to have noncompensable limitation of flexion and full extension prior to June 7, 2019. As of June 7, 2019, the Veteran had significant limitation of extension with no findings of ankylosis, instability or subluxation.