Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left hand injury and bilateral knee conditions due to incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5260 for limitation of flexion. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation as he does not have more than minimal limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence for service connection of upper back disability, left knee disability secondary to right knee disability, and right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examinations and requests for a new examination with specific information regarding flare-ups and functional loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis, a back disability, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied because the evidence did not show that his current tinnitus began during or within one year after his active duty, and is less likely related to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee condition was denied because there was no indication of a disease or injury incurred in service, and the earliest medical records showing symptoms were from over two decades after he left military service.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with a 10 percent rating restored for tendonitis of the left Achilles tendon and denied for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for right Achilles tendon condition and left knee ACL condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate examination report, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased laryngeal stenosis, right knee disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability due to incomplete evaluations and a lack of medical examinations.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to evaluate the severity of the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis due to potential changes in his condition since the last VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for hypertension, shingles, and ingrown toenails. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left knee disorder, hypertension, and duodenal ulcers due to the need for medical examinations to determine their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for lower back pain and right knee pain, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are more likely than not related to her active duty service.,Both lower back pain and right knee pain were incurred during the Veteran's period of active duty training in Guam.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for left knee quadriceps tendonitis and atrophy, status post reconstructive repair is being remanded due to the need for initial RO review of certain evidence in his claims file.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and rating determinations for various conditions, including right knee surgery, bone spurs of the left foot, left lower extremity radiculopathy, degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine low back strain, and sciatic nerve (right lower extremity radiculopathy).

Service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to service-connected tinnitus, is granted. The Veteran's current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea is considered caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, and initial compensable evaluation for pseudofolliculitis barbae of the face.,For bilateral pes planus, the Veteran's pre-existing condition was not aggravated during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have increased in severity since her last VA examination, and she is therefore required to undergo new examinations to determine the current severity of her conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was denied, and his TDIU claim was granted.