Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders due to insufficient consideration of his reported symptoms in service, including pain. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, right knee, and left knee conditions due to conflicting evidence regarding their onset and etiology. The claims are inextricably intertwined with the determination of her back condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout of the feet, gout of the knees, and a gallbladder disability have been denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during active service or in post-service records.,There is no current diagnosis of gout of the feet, gout of the knees, or a gallbladder disability.

The Veteran's right knee instability rating is restored to a 10 percent effective February 1, 2018. The left and right knee disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, finding that there was no evidence linking it to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for a lumbar spine disorder and left knee disorder, but denied his claims for a left shoulder disorder and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The appeal is granted as to these two issues.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has been rated at 100 percent disabling, which renders the issue of TDIU moot as it no longer meets the criteria for a separate disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability was denied. The rating for left knee limitation of flexion was restored to 10 percent, effective October 18, 2012. The claims for increased ratings for left knee instability and limitation of extension were remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while his condition manifested by shortness of breath and other conditions are denied. The issues of service connection for a left knee condition, right torn rotator cuff, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for his right knee and right wrist braces due to lack of evidence showing wear and tear on his clothing. The left knee brace was found to cause wear and tear, but no service connection is in effect for a right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development. The issues include right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, left hip disability, right hip disability, eye disability, hemorrhoids, and left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including carcinoma of the left vocal cord, traumatic arthritis and instability of the left knee, rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and right knee strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeals for generalized joint pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, and the petition to reopen a previously denied claim for bronchial disorder have been dismissed.,The appeal for an effective date earlier than October 24, 2012 for the grant of service connection for chronic constipation has also been dismissed.

The Veteran is granted service connection for various musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, including neck pain, low back pain, shoulder pain, wrist pain, hip pain, arm and hand pain, knee pain, foot pain, headaches, and skin symptoms. These conditions are presumed to be related to his military service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hip, knee, ankle, lumbar spine, and pelvic injury disabilities due to inconsistencies in evidence regarding whether the Veteran was under the influence of alcohol at the time of a motor vehicle accident. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and hypertension have been reopened, but the claim for high cholesterol has been denied. The case is remanded for further examination to determine if the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether a bilateral knee disability is caused or aggravated by service-connected left ankle, foot, or hip disabilities. A VA examination is needed to provide these opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and new evidence is needed for service connection of bilateral ankle, knee, and foot disabilities.