Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple disabilities remains pending and requires further development. The Board has ordered additional examinations to address the etiology of his claimed conditions, as well as to determine if there are any new or material issues that need to be addressed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for left knee lost flexion and right knee instability, as well as his claim for a higher rating for tinnitus. The effective date remains October 28, 2005.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, an upper back condition, hemorrhoids, and a right knee disability due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has decided that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his service. The case will be returned for this purpose.

The Veteran's initial and increased rating claims for left knee disability have been denied. The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran not timely filing a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) on his right knee disability rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the dates of his periods of active duty and inactive duty training, as well as the exact date of a motor vehicle accident in 1988. The Veteran is also required to provide legible versions of military pay vouchers and obtain authorization from VA to release private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left knee chondromalacia osteoarthritis was denied as his condition did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was also denied, as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's disability evaluation guidelines.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board has remanded for further examination regarding his left knee DJD. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee disability, hypogonadism, and gynecomastia due to Agent Orange exposure or VA prescription. The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as service-connected. The right shoulder, thoracolumbar spine, and bilateral hearing loss claims are dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal for these conditions. The right knee disability claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, left knee, right knee, and right foot conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's reserve service.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral disability and degenerative joint disease, as well as his left knee patellofemoral disability and degenerative joint disease, have been rated at 20 percent each for limitation of motion.,Both knees are currently rated based on the presence of painful motion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for back disability (to include as secondary to bilateral knee disability) and bilateral ankle disability (to include as secondary to bilateral knee disability) have also been reopened and granted.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 28, 2017 for service connection are denied. The cases of left elbow and right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back condition, bilateral knee condition, and lower bilateral nerve damage due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service connection claims for osteoarthritis of the right and left knees, as well as tinnitus, have been granted. The case has been remanded for further development regarding his bilateral hearing loss and heart disorder claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee, left foot, and right arm conditions. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection and increased ratings can be adjudicated on the merits. The Veteran's hearing loss, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and erectile dysfunction are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, granting service connection for these conditions.