Knee decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder conditions, lumbar spine disability, right knee arthritis, right foot arthritis with hallux valgus, and GERD.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in the Veteran's records.

The Veteran's PTSD, along with his back and knee disabilities, has resulted in a TDIU effective March 30, 2006. The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD effective the same date.

The Board has remanded two issues related to the Veteran's low back and left knee disabilities, finding that further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right hip disability, and bilateral knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as a delusional disorder, on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine disability. The remaining issues of service connection for tendonitis of the right knee, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded.

The claim of service connection for a neck disorder is reopened.,The claims of service connection for right knee and back disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not shown as chronic in service or within the one-year presumptive period, and he did not have a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss that began during active service. Therefore, his claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.,For the period from July 25, 2017 to January 23, 2018, the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis manifested in painful motion but did not result in flexion limited to 45 degrees or less or extension limited to 5 degrees or more. Therefore, his claim for an increased rating is denied.,For the period beginning March 1, 2019, the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis was rated at 30 percent and a higher evaluation of 60 percent is not warranted unless there are residuals such as severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical examination, and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The case is now pending and will be reviewed again with a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including a request for increased ratings and service connection. The Board has determined that these matters require additional development.

The Board has determined that new examinations are necessary due to the Veteran's testimony of worsening conditions, and his TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with these increased rating claims. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities have been reopened, but both conditions were denied as not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right hip disabilities, finding that there was no evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating for Compensation Purposes Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's TDIU claim was previously denied, and the Board found that referral to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service, for extraschedular consideration is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vision loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for a lumbar spine condition, claimed as lower back disc problem, is denied due to lack of in-service incurrence and continuity of symptomatology after discharge from active duty.,Service connection for bilateral knee pain is denied because there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's statements are too vague to suggest an in-service event or injury.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as the condition did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vision loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for a lumbar spine condition, claimed as lower back disc problem, is denied due to lack of in-service incurrence and continuity of symptomatology after discharge from active duty.,Service connection for bilateral knee pain is denied because there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's statements are too vague to suggest an in-service event or injury.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as the condition did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral leg/knee disability, to include aggravation of Osgood-Schlatter's disease and headache disorder.,The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran’s current knee or headache conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board has granted separate ratings for limitation of flexion with painful motion and instability, but the issue of service connection for a left knee disability secondary to the right knee disability remains unresolved. An increased rating for the right knee disability also requires further examination.

The Veteran's emergency visit to a private hospital for bilateral knee pain was considered an emergency, and the Board granted payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred on September 13, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right hip, knee, and ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's symptoms need further evaluation by VA examiners.