Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has restored a 30% disability rating for the Veteran's left knee disability, effective December 1, 2014. The reduction from 30% to 10% was improper due to inadequate examination and failure to consider whether improvement will be maintained under ordinary conditions of life.

The Board has decided that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for his back disability from 40% to 20%, effective May 1, 2016, was not proper. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disability, residual of spider bite on the right hand, skin condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations scheduled in accordance with the Board’s previous remand directives.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's temporary total disability rating for right knee surgery is granted, but the issue of a higher rating for left knee chondromalacia is remanded due to lack of recent VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's claims for service connection and payment/reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression and bilateral shoulder and knee conditions, did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 18, 2014. As such, an earlier effective date for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability. The current ratings for his residual scar and lengthening of the left lower extremity are denied, while his traumatic arthritis rating remains at 60 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for right and left knee disabilities, as well as the lumbar spine disability. Further VA evaluations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection for a right hip disability, gastrointestinal disability (including irritable bowel syndrome), and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The Veteran's left eye disability, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right knee surgical scar, left knee surgical scar, thoracic spine disability, and residuals of left total knee replacement are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis has been granted.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a neck disability, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded.,Service connection for left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for arthrosis and osteoarthritis of the right knee, as well as instability of the right knee, are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination post-surgery.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of aggravation of a pre-existing right shoulder disability remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there was clear and unmistakable evidence that his pre-existing right knee condition did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's right shoulder injury residuals, including rotator cuff tendinitis, are granted. The left shoulder disability and weight gain issues remain pending for further evaluation. The lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and neck injury residuals ratings are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing current disability. The claims for higher ratings for knee disabilities and for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability are remanded as there is insufficient examination documentation.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, low back disorder, and bilateral knee disorder have been granted. A 30% evaluation has also been assigned for the service-connected left ankle injury residuals.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. Service connection for right ear hearing loss, right knee condition, right leg condition, and left knee condition were denied.

The Board denied service connection for right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disorder, urinary frequency as secondary to bilateral hydroceles, and left knee disorder (including as secondary to right knee disability).,There is no current diagnosis of a right hip disorder. The Veteran's reported generalized right hip pain did not result in functional impairment.