Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma, leg scars, and knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, acquired psychiatric disability (depressive disorder and insomnia), and denied service connection for tinnitus. The effective date remains October 28, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition was granted. The other claims were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for her right knee tendonitis, finding that the evidence did not show limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection and increased ratings due to failure of VA examinations scheduled in March 2019. The Veteran's address is unclear, so another attempt at scheduling the Veteran for new VA examinations should be made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examination and opinion. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Agent Orange exposure, GERD, gout, and left and right knee disabilities have been granted.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability, which was previously rated as 10 percent. The increased rating is based on frequent episodes of 'locking,' pain, and effusion in the right knee.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome due to inadequate examination and worsening of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left knee DJD, right knee DJD, headaches, and CFS due to deficiencies in the VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is part of the increased rating claims.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability and granted service connection for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for left and right knee disabilities are being remanded.,Service connection is not established for the Veteran's claimed low back disability, as there is no evidence that it began during or was caused by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his shoulder and knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in the August 2013 rating decision, but reopened due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, acid reflux (secondary to PTSD), and erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD) were remanded as they are related to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for hypertension was granted based on a diagnosis during active service. The effective date is the date of receipt of claim, November 29, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and granted TDIU from June 1, 2011 to March 14, 2018. The appeal regarding TDIU from March 14, 2018 is pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence linking his current conditions to his military service. The Veteran is required to provide information about any recent treatment, and he will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine if his knee conditions are related to his in-service activities.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability, but denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and right knee arthritis was denied. For the period prior to July 29, 2019, he is not entitled to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his back disability. Beginning July 29, 2019, he is also not entitled to a higher evaluation for his back disability.

The Veteran's neck disorder, low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right hip disorder were denied. The claim for right ear hearing loss was reopened but not granted. All issues related to these conditions are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's left knee disability with degenerative joint disease, status post left knee arthroscopy, is now rated at 30 percent for limitation of extension from July 28, 2017. The Veteran also has instability of the left knee and a rating of 20 percent effective July 28, 2017.