Knee decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and right eye disorders due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a relationship to service.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee DJD are being remanded due to the need for further development.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee DJD are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability, left knee disability, and acquired low back disability. The claims were remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 31, 2019. From March 22, 2011, to May 31, 2019, the disability was increased to 20 percent due to frequent episodes of locking and pain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a November 2011 total right knee replacement surgery, finding that there was no evidence to support the contention that VA carelessness or negligence caused his additional disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were remanded due to incomplete or insufficient evidence. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent, bilateral knee disabilities at 10 percent, right ankle disability at 10 percent, tinnitus at 10 percent, and migraine disability at noncompensable. Service connection for elbow, hand, left ankle, IBS, GERD, upper extremity nerve disorder, and lower extremity nerve disorder were denied.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital for his nonservice-connected left knee fracture are denied as he did not receive VA 'medical services' within the 24-month period preceding the emergency treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, carpal tunnel of the upper extremities, cervical spine disability, and shoulder disabilities.

The Board has remanded all issues due to the failure of the AOJ to provide proper notice to the appellant's representative regarding a June 2016 rating decision. The CUE claim should be resolved prior to resolving the new and material evidence claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The claims are now pending before the AOJ for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or chronic condition within one year after separation from service. The VA examinations did not find a nexus between current disability and service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and left knee instability due to inadequate examination in assessing functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Veteran's left knee disability, right knee disability, and spondylolysis of the lumbar spine are all found to be related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for a left knee disability, a right knee disability, and spondylolysis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he was able to perform sedentary work.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for her right and left knee degenerative arthritis with idiopathic leg cramps have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,A total disability rating based on individual employability (TDIU) has also been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to issues with the rating assigned for the Veteran's left and right knee conditions, as well as a request for an extension of temporary total convalescence rating for his surgery. The claim for TDIU is also pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, to include as secondary to her service-connected chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating prior to February 14, 2019 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter for major depressive disorder with adjustment disorder with anxious mood remains pending. A remand is needed to obtain private records relevant to her service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and determine the etiology of her current right knee disorder.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, to include as secondary to her service-connected chronic lumbar strain with DDD, is also pending. A remand is needed to provide an opinion regarding the etiology of her current right knee disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee condition and its relationship to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right leg/knee, right ankle, and right foot disabilities. The decision stated that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.