Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral knee disability have been reopened, and service connection has been granted.,The claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to assess his knee disabilities. The TDIU claim is also being referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his disabilities. The issues remain on appeal.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, low back disorder, and cervical disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not rated compensable due to lack of penis deformity with loss of use.,Left knee disability and diarrhea/Irritable Bowel Syndrome need further examination for etiology.,Gulf War Syndrome claim reopened but no service connection granted as there is no evidence linking the symptoms to service or a known undiagnosed illness.,Right lower extremity sciatic nerve disability needs further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and remanded the claims for left knee and right hand disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including a new VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, as well as his claims of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional right leg disability, to include below-knee amputation (BKA), due to VA surgical and hospital care in early 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip condition, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, anemia, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and address duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, right knee disability, and left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low and middle back disability, right knee patellofemoral syndrome with strain, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome with strain have been remanded due to the need for further development.,An effective date earlier than September 19, 2016, for the award of service connection for right knee patellofemoral syndrome with strain is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee condition secondary to his service-connected left knee disability is denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of a current right knee disorder and noted that the Veteran does not require medical care for his right knee.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right knee degenerative arthritis prior to November 30, 2017 was denied as the evidence did not show flexion limited to 45 degrees or less, or by extension limited to 10 degrees or more.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis prior to July 6, 2018 and since October 1, 2018 was denied as the evidence did not show flexion limited to 45 degrees or less, or by extension limited to 10 degrees or more.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and evaluation of various disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability, bilateral foot disabilities other than neuropathy, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the feet, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, and entitlement to TDIU. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of degenerative changes of the lumbar spine due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The other claims related to left knee replacement are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and incomplete review of records. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess his right knee disability, including flare-ups.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, as well as his dermatophytosis (tinea unguium, tinea pedis, tinea cruris and tinea corporis), are all rated at 10 percent. The Board has remanded the cases for further development to ensure that the examinations comply with current legal requirements.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee and left ankle conditions as secondary to his service-connected right knee and right ankle conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for ratings in excess of 20 percent and 30 percent for left and right femur fractures, respectively. The appeals were withdrawn prior to a decision.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as aggravated by service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. The left knee disability is denied as not secondary to service-connected conditions. The claim for a rating greater than 30 percent for left upper extremity radiculopathy remains pending.