Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease is remanded due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for food allergies has been reopened, and the Board finds new and material evidence to support this. The remaining claims of service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, upper back disability, and low back disability are remanded due to a lack of adequate medical examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various conditions were denied. The rating for sleep apnea was not higher than 50%. The rating for sinusitis was not higher than 10%. The right knee strain and instability, as well as the left and right carpal tunnel syndromes, all received their maximum assigned ratings of 20% and 30%, respectively.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and an increased rating for his left knee DJD are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to DDT in Korea and the relationship between his current conditions and his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for left knee disability is granted, and the Board finds that his current left knee disability is proximately caused by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for vertigo, right ear hearing loss, and left knee disorder. The claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was not addressed as it is related to a non-service-connected condition (left ear). Service connection for right knee disorder remains pending.

The Board has vacated the portion of its September 10, 2019 decision that denied entitlement to service connection for heart disorder, OSA, right knee disorder, and migraine headaches. The issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including post-operative meniscus surgery and degenerative arthritis, has not been evaluated since his last VA examination in November 2018. The Board is remanding the case to schedule a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee degenerative arthritis is denied. The current assigned 10 percent rating adequately reflects the severity of his symptoms, including pain and crepitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensable initial ratings for his right knee strain, left knee strain, and bilateral plantar fasciitis as there was no evidence of instability or subluxation in either knee joint. The Veteran's motion range of motion did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for further development of the record.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the disabilities are related to active service due to exposure to noise trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected back and right knee disorders are rated at the maximum allowable levels. The Board has granted an effective date of June 1, 2014 for his TDIU and DEA benefits due to his unemployability caused by these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral knee condition, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current knee disability and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinea cruris, left ankle scar, right shoulder strain, and degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder are granted service connection. The Veteran is also granted a rating in excess of 20 percent for his right shoulder strain.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities were granted increased ratings of 30% each for the period prior to March 28, 2016. Separate 10% ratings were also granted for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage in both knees.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, including a request for higher rating and service connection for a left knee disorder. The decision also includes remand requests for bilateral hearing loss and asthma.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee strain with pain, and herpes simplex skin disorder were denied as the evidence did not support higher disability ratings.

The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine its nature and etiology, including whether it is proximately due or aggravated by service-connected conditions.