Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities, as secondary to service-connected ankle disabilities. The examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to the service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, to include as secondary to a left knee condition, and for a left knee condition. The decision found no evidence linking the current conditions to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, left elbow, and skin conditions require additional examinations to determine their current severity. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran incurred this disability due to an injury sustained during a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left knee disability (status post ACL reconstruction), and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee disabilities, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unemployable due to physical impairments. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's service connection claims for left knee strain, right knee strain, and PTSD are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection to include PTSD, bilateral secretory otitis media, and left knee strain has been granted. The Veteran is found to have a current diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service stressors, a current diagnosis of bilateral secretory otitis media with no evidence linking it to service, and a current diagnosis of left knee strain that may be linked to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeal for reopening his claim of service connection for left knee chondromalacia patellae was granted. The appeals for other conditions were remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for additional examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted. The Veteran's left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are each rated at 10 percent, effective July 1, 2016. The Veteran's service-connected left ankle strain is rated at 10 percent, effective February 23, 2016. The Veteran's service-connected right ankle arthritis is rated at 20 percent, effective February 23, 2016. The Veteran's scar, right ankle, TBI, and migraine headaches are not granted increased ratings.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder, hand, right knee or leg, and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his conditions, as his symptoms may have worsened since his last examination.

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including right knee instability and left knee postoperative degenerative symptoms. The remand is due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right-knee condition and coronary artery disease were denied. The Board found that the current rating of 30 percent for each condition was appropriate based on the evidence showing no severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremities.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was partially granted, with a remand ordered for further development of his left knee condition. The gout rating remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, consistent with his education and occupational history.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, bilateral knee, left ankle, and left lower extremity disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding their etiology. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted a 10% disability evaluation on an extraschedular basis, and the combined impact of multiple service-connected disabilities does not warrant referral for extraschedular consideration.