Knee decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence showing it began during active service or within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is remanded due to the need for new evidence and an updated examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral knee conditions and asthma, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due solely to these conditions. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether he can perform such work.

The claim for an increased evaluation of the right knee condition is denied.,The claim for a 10 percent evaluation, but no higher, for right knee arthritis is granted.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to lack of access to his service treatment records and inadequate rationale provided in previous examinations. The Veteran is also not entitled to TDIU without resolving his other claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left elbow, knee, ankle, carpal tunnel syndromes, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and PTSD), have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that relates to these conditions.,There are no indications of any service-connected disabilities that may be aggravated by the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to incomplete development of records. The issues are related as they both involve service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's valvular heart disease was granted service connection. The Board found the Veteran did not have a current knee, respiratory, headache, or ingrown toenails disability and remanded for further development regarding these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with a disability rating of 40 percent for her left knee disability (total knee arthroplasty) from June 1, 2013. Other issues are either denied or remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her eye disabilities, hypertension, vascular disease, knee conditions, and foot condition.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and initial disability ratings. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a right hip disability (claimed as right knee), right shoulder tendonitis, patellofemoral syndrome, and migraines are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee strain, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed for the Veteran's left elbow, back, and left knee disabilities due to lack of compliance with recent court decisions. The ratings for hypertension and migraines have also been remanded as they were last evaluated more than six years ago.

The Board denied service connection for Lyme disease and remanded the issues of evaluating right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and knee disabilities are causing him to be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has ordered a remand for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board partially granted the Veteran's Motion to Vacate, vacating the portion of the February 26, 2019 decision that denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, thoracolumbar or cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for type II diabetes mellitus. The Board partially denied the Motion to Vacate regarding the claims granted by the February 26, 2019 decision.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for left knee, right knee, left hip, right hip, left foot, and right foot disabilities. The Veteran also had her PTSD rating increased but is seeking a higher initial rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee injury, patella tendinitis, and right hamstring injury. Service connection was also granted for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. The appeal is remanded for a new examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.