Knee decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for left knee disorder, venous insufficiency of the right lower extremity, and venous insufficiency of the left lower extremity due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis, status post patellar surgery is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his symptoms and functional loss.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left knee disability is remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2018 VA examination report and inconsistency in the examiner's findings regarding flare-ups.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee and lower back conditions, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the cases.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his low back condition, right and left lower extremity conditions, and left knee condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for an eye disorder, right knee disorder, and nerve conditions of the upper and lower extremities due to incomplete medical opinions and new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The right knee and bilateral foot disorders are remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the VA examination report and the need for clarification regarding the Veteran's right knee condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, head injury residuals (headaches), sleep apnea, dizziness, left shoulder disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and/or left knee disability are being remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection is not currently established for any of the conditions listed above.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current right knee problems.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination for right knee chondromalacia, requiring another VA examination with specific testing and range of motion measurements.

The Veteran's hypertension is not shown to demonstrate diastolic pressure that is predominantly 110 or greater or systolic pressure that is 200 or greater, and therefore a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension is denied. The Board finds the VA examination report incomplete and requires further medical guidance due to Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for his left knee disability, which is rated at the maximum of 60 percent since August 1, 2012, has been denied. The amputation rule prevents any increase in rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, claimed as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hallux valgus deformity, is denied because he does not have a current clinically diagnosed bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability, specifically his osteoarthritis with moderate instability and status post meniscectomy, is rated at 20% effective August 20, 2018. The TDIU claim is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by degenerative arthritis and a radial tear of the anterior horn of the meniscus, was found to not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent. The evidence did not demonstrate flexion limited to 30 degrees or extension limited to 15 degrees, nor did it show frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint.

The Board has found that the higher rating claims for left knee disability and acquired psychiatric disability, as well as the claim for a TDIU, remain on appeal. The appeals are remanded due to procedural errors in issuing supplemental statements of the case (SSOC).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for left knee degenerative joint disease or right knee degenerative joint disease, but granted separate 10 percent ratings for instability in each knee. Service connection was denied for headaches, chronic pain syndrome, lumbar spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as sciatic radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran's headaches are also remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.,Service connection is not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to their death.