Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteophytes are each granted a 10% disability rating. The Veteran's lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis is denied an initial rating in excess of 10%.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his knee condition has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral knee disabilities due to failure of the Veteran to appear for VA examinations. The examinations will be rescheduled, and further development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death by making him more susceptible to developing endocarditis, which was the principal cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and left knee was denied as there is no evidence showing that his symptoms warranted a rating in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service-connected left ankle disability. The rating for his left ankle disability is also being remanded for a more current VA examination.

The Board has found insufficient evidence of the Veteran's current right knee and ankle functioning to adjudicate his claims for higher evaluations at this time, and thus remands the matter for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for a 70 percent rating for PTSD from September 26, 2012 forward is granted. The effective date of the increased rating is March 7, 2014.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and right foot disorders. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as his request for a higher rating for right ankle disability. The decision also noted that these issues were remanded previously.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service treatment and personnel records are needed to properly adjudicate his claims. As these records have not been obtained, the Board is remanding the cases for further action.

The Veteran's claim for an initial 50 percent rating for migraines is granted. The Veteran also has other service-connected conditions, but the appeal does not address their effective dates or whether they are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle and leg disabilities, finding that the symptoms were attributable to cellulitis and not a separate disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee, left knee, right leg, left leg, muscle disorder, eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, skin rash disability, chronic pain disorder, and neck disability. The decision also denied reopening of previously denied claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disability due to new and material evidence, but has remanded it for further development including obtaining inpatient records from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, VA treatment records, and private medical records. The case will be adjudicated based on whether the current left knee disability is related to active service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her left knee disability was denied. The effective date of service connection for her DJD with painful motion of the left knee is set at October 30, 2003.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities are secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The VA will provide a medical opinion to determine if these conditions are aggravated by the service-connected condition.