Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for left knee strain with DJD, secondary to right knee disability was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of the left knee disability was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of major depressive disorder was withdrawn. Service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, left knee chondromalacia, skin disability, spondylosis of the back, and sleep apnea were granted. The Veteran's appeals for head injury residuals (right and left shoulders), right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's statements regarding his left knee pain since service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing right knee disability was aggravated by service. The Veteran needs a new VA examination and authorization for private treatment records.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting addendum opinions. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed hip, knee, psychiatric, and low back disabilities. The appeals are also remanded for a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disability is secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip and right knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional evidence, including retrospective medical records and information related to any potential tort claims filed by the Veteran or his spouse.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee condition and his service-connected right ankle sprain.

The Veteran's back disability was restored to a 10 percent rating, effective June 24, 2016. The left knee disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, as there was no evidence of current disabilities. The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5260 due to limitation of flexion. His left index finger and ring fingers were each rated at 0 percent based on the absence of functional impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is reopened, and the appeal is remanded for further development. The Veteran also has other issues related to his right knee and tibia that are being remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability is manifested by painful motion and noncompensable limitation of motion. The Board finds no medical evidence to warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The claims for service connection for bilateral ankle DJD, a bilateral knee disability, ED, and TBI have been granted.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for left ankle and knee disorders, which he contends are related to his in-service injuries. The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions were inadequate due to a lack of evidence and remanded the case for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic right knee disorder, but granted service connection for a chronic cervical spine disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his claims for service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions and did not find a link between any in-service injuries or illnesses and the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right and left knees have been withdrawn.,The Veteran has been granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but the issue of low back disability is remanded.

The Board has dismissed all pending appeals related to the appellant's claims for initial compensable ratings, effective dates earlier than specific dates, and service connection. The issues have been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the effective date is not specified. The rating assigned and effective date will be determined in a future remand.