Knee decisions — 2019

The appeal of the issue regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for a stomach disorder is dismissed. Service connection is granted for right knee disability, left knee disability, and skin disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding his PTSD, elbow disorders, and knee disorder. The Veteran will need to provide VA with any relevant private treatment records from Dr. L.L., and a VA examination will be conducted to determine if his elbow and left knee disorders are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded other issues including initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for low back disability, service connection for right knee disability, service connection for left knee disability, service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, service connection for bilateral hip disability, service connection for bilateral shin splints, and service connection for bilateral ankle disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right knee disabilities, DM, ischemic heart disease, TBI, and peripheral neuropathy are all denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.,Service connection for DM was not granted because the condition did not manifest within one year after discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as service-connected, likely due to his multiple service-connected disabilities.,Right hand, left ankle, right knee, and bilateral shin disabilities are denied as not being related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected patellofemoral syndrome (including degenerative joint disease) of the bilateral knees and strain of the cervical spine due to inadequate examinations in February 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD was withdrawn. The claims for lower back injury, right foot injury, and right knee injury were dismissed as the evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen them. Special adapted housing and special home adaptation grant applications were denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee is being remanded due to a possible worsening since his last VA examination in June 2017. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine as secondary to service-connected pes planus, and right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis as secondary to service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating of 10 percent or more for his service-connected right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, including bursitis, popliteal cyst, and degenerative arthritis. The evidence shows the Veteran had symptoms since service and his current conditions are related to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee and lumbar spine disorders, as well as potential service connection for a secondary lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which includes a torn lateral meniscus and degenerative joint disease, has been rated at 10 percent. The Board has now granted an additional 10 percent rating to bring the total to 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and an imaging study.

The Board denied service connection for low back and left knee disorders, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service or any related disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The cases of left elbow disability, bilateral knee disability, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD), upper respiratory disability, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating and service connection has been remanded due to the submission of additional VA medical records that have not yet been considered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain STRs and VA treatment records, as well as for new medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed right hand condition, right shoulder disorder, back disorder, knee disorders, ankle disorders, and leg disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right knee disability due to inadequate evidence in the previous decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is service-connected as it was not aggravated by her military service and there is continuity of symptoms since service.