Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded two issues: 1) entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and 2) entitlement to an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected patellofemoral syndrome and arthritis of the left knee. The remand is due to inadequate March 2017 VA examination used by the Board.

The Veteran's postoperative residuals of left knee medial meniscectomy are granted a 60% disability rating, effective May 28, 2011. The claims for service connection for lumbar spine DJD/DDD and cataracts (formerly claimed as bilateral decreased depth perception) are reopened.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of left knee strain, diarrhea (claimed as a gastrointestinal stomach condition), and psychiatric disorder. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, left foot, and left hip disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.,A rating in excess of 10 percent as of December 17, 2010, and prior to August 3, 2018, for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied.

The Board has identified multiple issues on appeal related to service connection for various disabilities. The AOJ must review the claims in light of all received evidence and provide a Supplemental Statement of the Case if necessary.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded as there are outstanding treatment records that have not yet been associated with the claims file.,Further examination and opinion may be needed to determine if any of the claimed disabilities are related to military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating for his right knee arthroplasty, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disability, right shoulder disability, bilateral wrist arthralgia, bilateral elbow disability, cervical spine disability, and gastrointestinal disability (IBS), due to undiagnosed illness.,These matters are being returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability and a right hip disability is being remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial. The issues of whether these disabilities are related to service or caused by a service-connected left knee disability are also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left hip disabilities due to outstanding medical records from her time in Germany.

Service connection is granted for left and right knee disorders, diagnosed as medial compartment arthritis.,Service connection is also granted for herpes that had its onset in service.

The Veteran's right and left knee conditions are granted service connection. The TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee condition and its relation to service.

The Veteran's left knee strain disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities, as well as right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records from her Army Reserves period of service. The Board will also schedule Gulf War Illness examinations to determine if any of her conditions are related to her military service in the Persian Gulf.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is reopened, and the case is remanded for further development. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded.

The claim to reopen service connection for various conditions is granted. The claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and potential VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service, specifically due to joint trauma caused in part by his pre-existing bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral elbow, wrist, and knee disabilities under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 as undiagnosed illnesses or chronic multisymptom illnesses due to an inadequate May 2016 VA examination.