Knee decisions — 2019

The Board denied all service connection claims, including those for hypertension, pulmonary or respiratory disability, cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities, bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, and drug dependency. The decision also remanded the claim for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims, and did not find any of the conditions were related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and a higher rating for his left knee disability, finding no new evidence to reopen the claim or establish fault on VA's part.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot disability (plantar fasciitis), and hemorrhoids. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his left knee arthritis and acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as the TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of proper examination for the left knee disability, and further evaluation is needed.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities, as well as his acquired mental health disorder, are not properly adjudicated due to inadequate medical opinions. The case is therefore remanded for further examination and opinion.

The claim for restoration of a 10 percent rating for service-connected chondromalacia of the left knee is denied. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for chondromalacia of the left knee and instability, as well as whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and a right knee condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and opinion, including service connection claims for various conditions. The Veteran's tinnitus claim was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 60 percent disability ratings for his bilateral knee arthroplasties, effective from November 1, 2016. The reduction was improper due to lack of actual improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include osteoarthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, right knee strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy (associated with lumbar strain), and mild incomplete paralysis of the left radial nerve.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and left knee disabilities, as well as back strain, gout (right foot), and right and left hip pain. The appeals are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus, hypertension, and right knee disability have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.,There is no credible evidence of in-service injury or disease leading to current disabilities. The Veteran’s STRs do not show any complaints or treatment related to these conditions during service.,The Board finds that continuity of symptomatology has not been established, and the Veteran's assertions regarding onset during service are not credible given his post-service medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his current knee conditions are related to his military service.

The application to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for a back disability and a leg disability, also claimed as a right knee disability is granted. The application to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a left ankle disability is denied. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD), a back disability, and a leg disability (also claimed as a right knee disability) are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues, including service connection for various conditions and an increased rating for tinnitus. The Board has determined that the maximum disability rating possible under applicable criteria is 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus. For other claims, a new examination and additional evidence are needed.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for left shoulder dislocation and osteoarthritis of the left knee are being remanded due to insufficient examination records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, psoriasis vulgaris, and psoriatic arthropathy of the knees, hands, and feet due to potential direct causation or aggravation by his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's in-service exposure to Agent Orange is already conceded.