Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD, right knee condition, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and traumatic brain injury are all granted. The PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to October 2018 and 100 percent since then.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses associated with his private follow-up visit and imaging provided at SOSMC on August 25, 2016. The costs incurred were covered by VA.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for facial and lip lacerations was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for coronary artery disease status post heart attack is granted as presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,PTSD is rated at 50 percent, the maximum under applicable criteria.,Tinnitus remains at a 10 percent rating.,Bilateral hearing loss was initially noncompensable and now rated at 10 percent after January 14, 2019.,Low back disability is rated at 10 percent prior to October 28, 2015, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter. Right knee disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The Veteran's current diagnoses are linked to his active duty service.,Service connection was denied for a right shoulder condition due to lack of evidence showing the presence of such a disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right wrist extensor tendonitis and left knee chondromalacia were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss or ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for evaluation of right and left knee degenerative arthritis due to incomplete development as requested in a prior remand. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant VA and private treatment records, including those from November 2014 to present.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as lumbar spondylosis and disc bulging with disc degeneration. The decision also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral ankle disability, neck pain, and headaches.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's right knee disability and residuals of tubal ligation. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is being remanded, while her claim for residuals of tubal ligation remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disability, left knee disability, and left shoulder disability due to insufficient opinions from VA examiners regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all remaining issues on appeal, including service connection claims and rating decisions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, left knee disability, and skin disorder. The cases are remanded to obtain VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee disability. The case will be returned for a new VA examination and further analysis.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates of April 25, 2008 for grant of service connection for degenerative arthritis, left and right knee/leg as secondary to the service-connected disability of residuals of rupture left achilles tendon are granted. The claim for increased rating for residuals of rupture left Achilles tendon is remanded.

Service connection for broken feet, left ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and hypertension has been denied.,The Veteran's TBI claim is remanded as additional records are needed to substantiate the claim.

Your appeal for service connection has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has found that additional development is needed due to new and relevant VA treatment records submitted by the Veteran. These records were not reviewed as they relate to the Veteran's claims of entitlement to compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right knee disorder, a right hip disorder, a right lower extremity disorder, and a low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sinus problems, left ear hearing loss disability, sleep apnea (to include as secondary to bipolar disorder), gout, bilateral knee disabilities, and back disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to unclear NOD and incomplete records. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining private medical records, determining whether ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA periods affect service connection, and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent prior to June 25, 2014 and from June 25, 2014. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent. The left knee patella tendon tear and instability are both rated at 20 percent. The right Achilles tendonitis is rated at 20 percent. The bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent prior to June 25, 2014 and from that date.