Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hip and right knee disorders, as well as a back disorder, require further examination and opinion due to conflicting medical evidence. The appeal is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include low back, knee, foot, and sleep disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence showing a present diagnosis related to the claimed conditions. The Board has remanded the respiratory condition claim and is requesting an addendum opinion regarding its relation to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disorders due to a lack of clear and unmistakable evidence that his current bilateral knee disorder pre-existed his military service, or if it did, whether such was aggravated by service. The case is sent back for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability has been denied. The Board found no current hearing loss disability during the pendency of the claim and thus denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, neck, bilateral shoulder, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities due to inadequate opinions regarding aggravation by pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder is granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a vestibular disorder (claimed as dizziness) is denied.

The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for chronic skin rash is dismissed as the Veteran requested its withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.,The claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence on etiology.,The claims for increased ratings for left knee disabilities and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to lack of recent VA examinations.,,,

The Veteran's COPD compensable rating claim is withdrawn.,The effective date for TDIU prior to January 27, 2016 is denied.,A staged disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to April 1, 2016 is granted and a staged rating in excess of 70 percent after February 17, 2016 is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea, right knee disability, and diabetes are all denied.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a neck disorder, left knee disorder, and left wrist disorder due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants no greater than a Level I rating for each ear under Table VI.,Entitlement to increases in the ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee limitation of extension, and right knee impairment is remanded.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to evaluate the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, as well as his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/hiatal hernia, left ear hearing loss, and right thumb fracture with residuals. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the current severity of these disabilities and to assess whether they are related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete examination, and a new opinion is needed regarding whether the current left knee disability is related to the Veteran's pre-existing left leg fracture.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee arthritis is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, but denied service connection for left kidney renal cell carcinoma. The right knee condition is related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee, lumbar spine, and neck disabilities due to incomplete medical history and lack of objective evidence.,Further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left and right knee disabilities need to be remanded due to an inadequate VA examination. The examiner did not adequately address whether her knee pain began during basic training or if it was aggravated by vigorous physical activity in service.

The Veteran's claims for back, right and left knee disorders, as well as hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, as well as an increased rating for his right knee disability. The issues are secondary service connection for the left knee disability and an increased rating for the right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 30, 2015 for the grant of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left wrist sprain (non-dominant), right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right shin splints with stress fractures was denied. The effective date is set at September 30, 2015.