Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's PTSD, right knee instability, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's claims for left foot disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and right leg radiculopathy are all granted as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, neck, and low back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the nature of these conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral ankle tendonitis and retrocalcaneal bursitis, as well as bilateral knee strains, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus. The claim for left quadricep repair and bilateral calf pain is remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's knee and spine disabilities, as well as his ankle disabilities. The main reasons for remand include obtaining additional VA treatment records and conducting a new examination to determine if the Veteran’s bilateral ankle disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine and/or knee disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to a mistake in medication prescribed for cancer treatment at the Puget Sound VA hospital in Seattle, Washington.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cause of death due to parotid cancer and disability resulting from asbestos exposure, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or contributing to his death.

The Veteran's right knee disability and service-connected chronic prostatitis are being remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left knee disability, right knee degenerative joint disease, and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The case will be further reviewed with a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and examination to address service connection claims for sleep apnea, bilateral knee disability, IBS, bilateral lower extremity sciatica, and hypertension.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, including whether it is related to active service or due to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to issues with service connection for prostate condition and increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on additional evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate rationale in the previous medical opinion, and a new addendum opinion is needed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurological disability of the right knee, but remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis and bilateral foot disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right knee strain with anatomic variation of bipartite and tripartite patella is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not warrant a higher rating due to limited flexion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for degenerative joint disease of the right hip and right knee arthritis due to insufficient examination findings. The Veteran needs new VA examinations to assess his current disability levels.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a low back disability, left knee radiculopathy, and left knee instability due to insufficient examinations in previous decisions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and examination to address the issues of service connection for various conditions, including sleep disorder, damaged teeth/TMJ disorder, acid reflux disorder, right ear condition/right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, low back disorder, and left wrist disorder.