Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis, bilateral knees, right hip condition, and left hip condition as these conditions are not found to be related to his service-connected residuals of a left foot injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability have been granted. The appeals were reopened due to new evidence submitted since the final denial of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to new evidence indicating a worsening of his left knee condition and the need for further examination. The ratings for his service-connected left knee disability are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to lack of medical records and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his total knee arthroplasty, is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's initial increased evaluation for left knee PFPS prior to July 9, 2018 is granted.,An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee PFPS since July 9, 2018 is denied.,A 10 percent evaluation for a left knee meniscal injury is granted effective July 3, 2017.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicides. Other claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities as there is no evidence showing a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a previously denied service connection claim for a head injury was denied. The Board found no new and material evidence.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disability may be related to his service-connected right knee arthritis, but needs more information from private doctors who have treated him.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea was denied in February 2014 due to lack of evidence linking the condition to his active service or PTSD. The Board found no new and material evidence since then.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for right knee limitation of extension is fixed at February 10, 2017, as that's when the Veteran’s right knee extension was limited by at least 5 degrees, warranting a noncompensable rating. The claim for earlier effective dates is denied.,The effective date for the assignment of a 10 percent evaluation for service-connected right knee limitation of flexion is fixed at December 18, 2015, as that's when the Veteran reported worsening symptoms and his condition was factually ascertainable. The claim for earlier effective dates is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities has been dismissed. The appeals seeking entitlement to service connection for residuals of kidney cancer, a right knee disability, an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD), and a right lower extremity disability have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the lower back condition claim is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic low back injury or disease during service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease L4 to S1 with contact of left S1 nerve root and right knee chondromalacia have been remanded by the Board.,Further evaluation is needed to determine appropriate disability ratings for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, left leg/knee scars, and LLE nerve disorder to include radiculopathy and neuropathy.,There is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right-knee injury is granted, as the evidence shows that his current disability was incurred during active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and Board analysis. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left wrist disability, right thumb laceration residuals, left index finger disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, Eustachian tube disability, gastrointestinal disability, skin disability, herpes zoster, and disability manifested by chest pains due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee, degenerative joint disease as there was no credible evidence linking her current condition to service.