Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to determine the current severity of her right knee disability, including range of motion and instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee total replacement, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.,However, the Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis directly to his service or a service-connected condition. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lumbar strain, left knee strain, and hiatal hernia, to include entitlement to a separate rating for GERD are dismissed. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the right knee disability and Hepatitis C claims. The hemorrhoids claim is granted with a 10 percent rating from November 2, 2005 and a 20 percent rating from November 9, 2012.

The Veteran's right knee disability ratings for arthritis and ACL tear are denied as his flexion is not limited to 45 degrees or less, and he does not have severe recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The Board has granted service connection for gout, hypertension, left knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The effective date of the grant of service connection for chronic sinusitis is denied as there was no prior claim filed before May 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with prior remand instructions regarding obtaining medical records from Ochsner Medical Center. The Veteran is required to provide any missing records and VA will attempt to obtain them.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and outstanding private treatment records.

Service connection is granted for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities.,Service connection is denied for a lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and left knee disorder.,A rating of 30 percent for CAD was granted effective February 19, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee was granted on August 16, 2017. The effective date is set at this date as it represents the earliest possible date for which he is entitled to an award of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability as there was no evidence linking the current condition to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disability and scars are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including VA treatment records and private medical records.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and compensable ratings for his knee disabilities and scars, as he withdrew these issues prior to a decision. The effective dates of service connection have been granted on April 29, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, joint arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Service connection is not granted for a low back disability as there is no evidence of such during active service or related to an in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle ankylosis status post AFTL tear, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to her service-connected right knee instability with patellofemoral syndrome and chondromalacia.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a new examination as the current evidence may not reflect the current state of his disabilities.

Service connection is granted for bilateral pes planus and a left knee disability. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left eye injury residuals are denied.,For the entire period on appeal, a disability rating of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee and low back disabilities due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for an examination to determine if any current disabilities are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right knee disability, right ankle disability, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, prostate disability, fatigue syndrome, and bilateral eye disability have all been denied.,No current diagnoses were found for any of these conditions in the Veteran's records.