Knee decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and sleep apnea, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim of bilateral knee disability and that there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between sleep apnea and active service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).,Further evaluation is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and denied service connection for left knee disorder. The decision on the left knee disorder is based on a finding that it did not have its onset during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee torn ACL with medial and lateral meniscus tears, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and the need to obtain outstanding private treatment records. The issues include reopening a claim of bilateral pes planus, as well as service connection for low back disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, hip disability, knee disability, stomach disability, and skin rash.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations in determining the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected back and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability, specifically during flare-ups. A new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, and left ankle condition have been granted. The other claims remain denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The VA has been remanded to obtain necessary documentation regarding the April 15, 2014 cervical spine fusion surgery and determine if any additional disability resulting from this surgery was an unforeseeable event or a known risk of the procedure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on the claims of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for a lumbar spine disability, service connection for a right ankle disability and service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of osteoarthritis of the left and right hips, left and right knee conditions, and DDD of the cervical spine as secondary to lumbosacral degenerative disease were denied.,PTSD was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for joint pain, migraines, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to incomplete examination reports and lack of clarity on current disabilities.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for arthritis was denied.,The Veteran's applications to reopen the claims for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities were also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD and PTSD. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities necessitate the use of bilateral knee braces, which tend to wear or tear his pants. The Board finds that he is entitled to annual VA clothing allowances for these knee braces in 2017.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for right knee degenerative joint disease and instability have been denied. The current ratings adequately reflect the Veteran’s symptoms, including pain on motion, locking, stiffness, fatigability, weakness, and swelling.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of his left hip disability has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for low back and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of April 13, 2014. The Board granted an effective date for the TDIU claim on that date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle conditions due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.,Service connection was also denied for depression as there is no competent medical evidence linking this condition to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and left knee disability, including as secondary to a right knee disability. However, further development is needed due to inadequate VA examination in March 2014.