Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip, right hip, and left knee conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran testified that her current hip and knee pain is related to her military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims of service connection for right knee meniscus tear, left knee degenerative joint disease, median nerve paralysis of the right hand, and median nerve paralysis of the left hand. The Veteran's statements and medical records do not establish a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to comply with the Court's decision in Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017). The Veteran needs an adequate VA examination for VA rating purposes.

The Veteran's non-in excess of 10 percent rating for ACL injury of the left knee is denied as flexion was limited to 130 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 5260.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee disabilities due to inadequate range of motion testing in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of the spine, anxiety and depression, arthritis of the knees, tinnitus, sinusitis with rhinitis, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues of back disability, right knee disability, and bilateral flat foot (pes planus).

The RO reduced the Veteran's disability evaluation for limitation of motion, arthritis of the left knee from 10 percent to noncompensable (0 percent) effective June 17, 2017. The reduction was not supported by evidence in the record at that time and is therefore void ab initio. The RO also remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for arthritis of the left knee and limitation of motion, arthritis of the left knee, as well as his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD; and initial ratings for left ankle and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service connection and evaluation for various conditions, including right knee disability, right ankle disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, and residuals of left knee injury. The decision also grants a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions regarding pre-service conditions and the need for further examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to diabetes mellitus, right knee conditions, and lumbar spine conditions. The Board dismissed the appeal as these claims were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The appeal of PTSD was dismissed. A 70 percent rating for major depressive disorder is granted, and the Veteran's sleep apnea and/or sleep disturbance, left knee condition, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and lumbar strain issues are remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on his ability to work.

The Veteran's right knee status post ACL reconstruction with traumatic arthritis is rated at 20 percent, but no higher, due to limitation of flexion to 30 degrees on account of daily flares and use over time.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, left ankle, right ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities have been denied.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability has been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of upper back injury, to include wedge deformity of the ninth thoracic vertebrae and degenerative disc disease, as well as right knee disability. The Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. From July 25, 2012 to April 24, 2013, the Veteran received a maximum 60 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability under the IVDS Rating Formula. The Veteran also received a 10 percent rating for left knee chondromalacia from July 25, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for low back strain, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, left knee bursitis, acanthosis nigricans and dermatofibroma with seborrheic keratoses. The claim of CUE in the denial of service connection for sinusitis and epididymitis was dismissed without prejudice to refiling.,The Board found that there is no evidence linking any of these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's prostate disorder and left knee disability have been remanded for further development. Other issues, including service connection claims, increased evaluations, and TDIU, are also remanded.