Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, headaches, sleep disability, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson disease, circulatory disability, gastroesophageal disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, and bilateral ankle disabilities has been granted. The claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, bilateral upper extremity frostbite residuals, bilateral lower extremity frostbite residuals, bilateral foot disability, skin disability, and service connection for a lumbar spine disability have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, left and right knee conditions, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions manifested during or within one year after service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence of chronic symptoms in service, continuous symptomatology since service, or manifestation of degenerative joint disease (DJD) to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service.

Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disorder, and sleep apnea. Service connection is denied for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The case is REMANDED to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of GERD.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease and instability, is rated at 60 percent effective June 1, 2018. A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder, right leg disorder, and pneumonia.,There is no current diagnosis of a right knee or right leg disorder in the Veteran's records.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee condition. The issues of service connection for groin, left hip, and right hip conditions remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to asbestos exposure and service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claim for an increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate examination findings and failure to comply with previous remand instructions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and a separate rating of 10 percent for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage is granted. The right knee disability remains rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran’s left knee disability does not meet the criteria for an increased rating beyond 10 percent due to painful motion without additional limitation of flexion or extension.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The appeal for right and left lower extremity burns is dismissed. The appeals for increased evaluations of hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of total knee replacement are remanded. The appeal for TDIU prior to January 6, 2017 is also remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease and left knee strain, is granted. The cervical spine disorder, thoracic spine disorder, headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder) are remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including service connection claims for various conditions. The appellant's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, but the exact nature of his knee, back, cervical spine, and diabetes mellitus disabilities is unclear.

The Veteran's right and left knee posttraumatic arthritis have been rated at 10 percent since December 1, 2008. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support higher ratings for either knee due to lack of limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee strain, right shoulder strain, and left shoulder strain due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left knee condition and therefore, service connection for this disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeals seeking increased ratings and service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. The appeal seeking a rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of fracture of vertebrae, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are remanded.

The Veteran's left knee sprain, right knee sprain, and left hip sprain have been granted initial disability ratings of 10 percent each.