Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations and opinions to determine if the Veteran's knee replacements and sleep apnea are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for left-knee disorder, bilateral-shoulder disorder, and blood clots due to the absence of evidence showing a pre-service or in-service onset.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence of any knee condition during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease as secondary to service-connected hypertension and for a left knee disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's history of uncontrolled high blood pressure during service, which is considered a risk factor for developing coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, low back condition, left and right ankle disabilities, bilateral knee conditions, and bilateral hearing loss due to potential issues with the adequacy of previous VA examinations.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received sufficient to readjudicate the claims of entitlement to service connection for pes planus, frostbite of the feet, back pain, diabetes, poor vision, a right knee condition, and frostbite of the hands. The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for fracture of the ring finger, right hand; service connection for tinnitus; and service connection for left knee disability due to his withdrawal of these appeals prior to the issuance of a final decision.

The Veteran's right knee scar and instability are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, as well as his low back disability, are rated at the lowest possible levels. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's reported in-service injuries are causally related to his current disabilities.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back and right knee disorders were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities, including instability and degenerative joint disease. The issues are whether a higher rating can be assigned based on current symptoms and findings.

The Board denied service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, right calf strain, stomach hernia (umbilical), and sleep apnea as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids. The remaining issues of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, EAC (skin condition), and a right knee condition are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's groin condition, right foot pes planus, right foot hallux valgus, and right knee osteoarthritis. The claims have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of right knee disability, back disability, and hemorrhoids.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and hip conditions, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any other in-service event. The Board also found that secondary service connection could not be granted as the Veteran did not have a diagnosed condition at issue.

The Veteran's right ankle and right knee disabilities are rated based on their specific impairments, with the right ankle receiving a 20% rating for osteochondral defect and the right knee receiving separate ratings for limitation of extension (10%), instability (10%), and flexion (10%). The appeals for higher ratings were denied.

The Veteran's right leg disability, specifically the residuals of a fracture of the right femur and fibula with limitation of motion of the knee, is being remanded for further evaluation due to worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.