Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are due to his active military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as related to service. The Board also found that the Veteran has other conditions like sinusitis, pituitary gland condition, joint pain, elbow and knee conditions, and GERD which are presumed to be due to his service in Saudi Arabia.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding higher ratings for left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for asbestosis, but the other conditions are remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional examination.

The Veteran's right knee brace causes wear and tear to his clothing, which is sufficient for a clothing allowance in 2017.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left eye corneal scar is being remanded due to the need for additional records. The issue of service connection for a left knee disability has been resolved as he was granted service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left knee condition and his service. The Veteran contends that his IT band injury in 2011 is related to his current left knee pain, but the VA examiner did not address this claim.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee, low back, and left index finger disabilities were denied. The RO assigned noncompensable initial ratings for these conditions.

The Board has revised its July 20, 2015 decision to grant service connection for chronic cervical strain. The other issues of service connection were denied due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for DJD of the bilateral knees was denied. The Board also remanded his claim for GERD due to an undiagnosed Gulf War illness.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding his entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder due to his request through his attorney of record to withdraw the appeal. The issues of an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a left shoulder disability, service connection for a left elbow disorder, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) are remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and back disabilities, as well as migraines secondary to a back disability, need further review due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation to determine if they meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and initial ratings for various knee, shoulder, toe, groin, and hearing loss conditions are remanded due to the need for new examinations.

The claim for service connection for skin rash other than PFB is reopened, and the claims for left knee disorder and increased rating for PFB are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, headaches, shin splints, bone spurs in the right foot, back disability, and right knee disability. The reasons include lack of VA examination due to failure to report for scheduled examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The appeal is remanded for further action on some of the issues.

The Board has added new medical evidence to the record, including treatment records and a VA examination regarding the Veteran's left ankle. The claims for reopening service connection for various knee and hip disorders as well as lumbar spine disorder are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for liver damage, AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right and left wrist, degenerative disease of the left knee, degenerative changes of the right knee, chronic cervical strain with radiculopathy/neuropathy, lumbar strain, allergic rhinitis, and PTSD have all been denied. The Veteran's claim for prurigo is remanded.

The Board has reopened the claims for right shoulder and left knee disabilities, as well as hypertension. The cases are remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding service connection.