Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disorder, right leg disorder, and right knee disorder due to new evidence submitted in July 2014. The claims will be considered as reopening.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right knee disability and skin disability due to inadequate examination reports. The cases are now pending with the RO in San Diego, California.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his severe back pain and heart condition, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a bilateral foot disorder (including pes planus and plantar fasciitis) and a bilateral knee condition are granted. The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is related to service. The Veteran claims his current condition is a result of carrying heavy loads over multiple marches during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his left knee meniscal disability is denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's right knee condition and hypertension are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of onset during or within one year after service. The Board finds that the current conditions do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have worsened, and she is being asked to provide updated evidence or be examined by VA.

The Board is remanding all issues for additional development and records.,The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded due to the need for additional records, including military personnel records and service treatment records.,The VA psychiatric examination in January 2018 did not provide a clear opinion on the etiology of the acquired psychiatric disorder. A new examination is needed.,VA lumbar and cervical spine examinations were inadequate and require further evaluation to determine functional impairment due to pain, weakness, fatigue, or incoordination.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 17, 2008 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is being remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding his last date of employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since June 2, 2018.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was granted a rating of 40 percent effective July 17, 2018. A separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability is also granted. The Veteran’s chronic sinusitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5055 for left knee condition status post partial replacement is granted. The Board finds the Veteran entitled to a temporary 100 percent rating from February 23, 2012 through March 31, 2013. However, his claim for service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to service-connected left total knee arthroplasty and/or right knee arthroplasty, P.O. internal derangement, degenerative disease is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral foot, left knee, and right heel disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities other than PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection of his right knee condition has been granted. The Board has decided that remand is necessary due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his current right knee disability is related to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disorder, right upper and lower extremity nerve disorders, right shoulder disorder, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), sinusitis, and deviated septum have been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been submitted to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for hiatal hernia / GERD was denied. His right knee chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis received a 100% disability rating effective November 7, 2018. The claims for left knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities were remanded due to lack of evidence or insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis was also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 17, 2016, and July 12, 2013, for service connection and increased ratings were denied as there was no evidence of a factual increase in disability within one year before the date of her claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection has been granted for a bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the Board has not found a current disability or established a link to service for all of his claimed conditions.