Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has restored the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and ankle disabilities from a noncompensable rating to 10 percent effective October 1, 2016. The claim for increased ratings remains on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his right knee disability and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his bilateral knee disabilities and service connection claim for a right eye disorder are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and consideration of additional medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, left hip, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus has been reopened, but the claim remains denied as there is no evidence that his tinnitus began during service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for low back disorder and right knee disorder due to insufficient rationale in a previous medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within a presumptive period. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, a left index finger disability, and a right knee disability have been granted. The disabilities are found to be related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of his right knee and right sciatica conditions before the Board could make a decision.

The claims for service connection of left and right knee conditions were denied because the evidence did not establish that the Veteran's pre-existing knee conditions were aggravated by his active duty service. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran needs updated VA treatment records, a completed VA Form 21-8940, and an adequate VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity and etiology of the Veteran's disabilities, including his hand/fingers, elbows, knees, left shoulder, and back conditions. The claims have been remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by arthritis-related painful motion, is not rated higher than 10 percent from July 23, 2014, to January 8, 2017. Separate ratings of 10 percent are granted for left knee instability and left knee medial meniscectomy.

The Veteran's left knee conditions do not warrant a higher rating, and his residual scar from upper-back cyst removal does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran’s appeal is remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation of his service-connected conditions, as well as additional evidence regarding his claims. The appeals are not related to a presumption or exposure basis.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for her left knee disorder and service connection for bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The left knee condition is rated at 10 percent, while the hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is granted, with the Board finding that his current condition is related to his active duty service. The decision also notes that he has been diagnosed with an internal derangement of the right knee and osteoarthritis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining medical records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability is being reviewed again.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and bilateral knee conditions, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left shoulder disability and increased rating for his chondromalacia of the left knee.