Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back condition, and bilateral knee conditions. The case is remanded for further examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities are not related to service. However, due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions, further examination is needed to clarify these issues.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU. The issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee and an earlier effective date for asthma were denied. The Board found that the Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 30 percent for his right knee, status post total knee replacement, and that there is no basis to grant an effective date prior to April 14, 2015, for the award of service connection for asthma.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and consideration, including the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions. The Veteran's service records are to be obtained, as well as relevant VA and private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a right knee disability due to insufficient consideration of the claimant's reports of right knee locking and the need for an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left hip, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service. A VA examination is needed to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his time in active duty.

An effective date of November 21, 2016, but not earlier, for the award of a 20 percent rating for right knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome is granted.,A compensable rating for a surgical scar on the right knee is denied. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a right lower extremity neurological disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for various service-connected disabilities due to a lack of recent VA examinations and assertions of worsening symptoms. The cases are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a finding of current disability. The Board is remanding the claims for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI), pulmonary disability including asthma, low back disability including scoliosis, and bilateral knee disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI was denied as there was no in-service injury or disease, and the evidence does not support a finding that his current symptoms are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including Osgood-Schlatter's disease and dislocated semilunar cartilage, have been granted increased ratings. The scars are not compensable.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left knee disabilities, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues on appeal, including increased ratings and service connection claims.

Service connection is granted for bilateral knee condition and right hip condition.,Service connection is remanded for gout, right eye retinal vein occlusion (claimed as blindness), sleep apnea, and left shoulder condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and his degenerative arthritis of the spine (low back condition) prior to March 27, 2018 is rated at 40 percent. The Veteran does not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left-sided body pain, including a left hip disorder; left shoulder disorder; left arm disorder (claimed as left elbow pain); and left knee disorder due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability, including DJD and osteochondritis dessicans, is related to his service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran will need to provide medical records and undergo a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment, despite his reported limitations and current employment.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current right shoulder, left knee, or right knee disability and therefore denied service connection for these conditions. The issue of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded as it may be related to her service-connected heart condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to issues with the timeliness of his substantive appeals for service connection. The remaining claims are related to TBI and right knee disability.