Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a dental condition for VA outpatient treatment have been granted. The remaining issues of left knee disability, gastrointestinal disability, lumbar spine transverse process fracture with residual chronic pain, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and Baker's cyst are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has restored the Veteran's prior 60 percent rating for left knee status post arthroplasty effective July 1, 2014. The issues of increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities are remanded as they may significantly impact a decision on the issue of entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been granted, with a rating of 70 percent effective from September 10, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, gout, bilateral knee disability, stroke, TIA, low back injury with degenerative disc disease, and depression due to insufficient evidence and need for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, right knee disorders, and left knee disorders due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg disability, including the right knee and hip, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's low back disability, including rating claims and service connection for various lower extremity and hip/knee disabilities. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for renal dysfunction. Additional evidence is needed, particularly from VA providers, and a comprehensive examination is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and consideration of the Veteran's in-service allergic reaction to sulfar drugs, which may have caused his current disability. The VA examiner’s opinion is inadequate for decision-making purposes.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left testicle disorders, PTSD, depression, and bilateral knee disabilities are all granted. The decision also remands the Veteran's claim for a back disorder and skin disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the previously denied claims. The Board found no in-service injury or disease related to the claimed conditions.

Service connection is granted for bilateral ankle, foot, and knee conditions as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness or chronic multi-symptom illness due to service in the Persian Gulf.,The Veteran's disabilities are related to his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disability, and right ankle disability as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee disorder and her service-connected low back disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, increased rating for right knee arthritis, and compensable disability rating for left eye cataract were all denied. The decision did not address the service connection claim as it was decided on the merits.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder condition, low back pain, bilateral knee pain, bilateral ankle condition, and right bicep condition. The Veteran's rhinitis was granted service connection.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran’s hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases for denying service connection for a right knee disorder. The Veteran's pain in the right knee needs to be evaluated further.

The Veteran's scar residuals associated with his service-connected left ankle disability are rated at 10 percent. The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the scars, finding that they meet the criteria based on their painful nature.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee conditions, but the claim for GERD remains pending as it was remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and lack of consideration of certain factors.