Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's need for aid and attendance was granted from September 19, 2013 to September 29, 2018. The claim for a compensable rating for tinea versicolor prior to April 29, 2019 is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 5260 for limitation of flexion. The Board found that the Veteran’s right knee had a flexion limitation of 15 degrees.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension due to a lack of current diagnosis and no evidence linking it to his active service.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD), and sleep disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between her current knee conditions and her service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis.

Service connection has been granted for tinnitus, residuals left knee injury, cervical disc disease, and low back pain.,The Veteran's service connection claims were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and deficiencies in diagnoses and nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's knee/leg and ankle disabilities, which are related to service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee, hip, and cervical spine disabilities due to additional VA-generated evidence. The issues include left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease (post ACL tear and arthroscopic repair), lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, cervical spine strain, right hip degenerative joint disease, left hip degenerative joint disease, right hand tendonitis, left hand tendonitis, and muscle tension headaches.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a right knee scar is remanded, and he also appeals for a higher initial rating.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected right knee scar is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the complexity of the issues, including the need to consider neurologic abnormalities associated with his low back disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings for right knee disability and PTSD, as well as service connection for right and left hip disabilities. The Board dismissed these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include obstructive sleep apnea, low back disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, and neck disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis and its relationship to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is granted service connection, but his left and right knee strains and psychiatric disability to include PTSD and MDD are denied. The case for seizures is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim for service connection of a right knee disability is granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of whether his right knee disability is secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's right-knee scars were found to not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes.,Service connection was denied for bilateral pelvic tilt, as well as chronic pain syndrome, both of which are deemed unrelated to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim for service connection for a right knee disability was denied. A rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% rating since April 1, 2012 and remanded for further evaluation. Other issues related to left knee disabilities are also remanded.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, left ankle disability, and right foot disability as they are all related to his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, and left shoulder tendinopathy. The Board found no evidence of disease or injury in service that would support these claims.