Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions, as well as skin cancer. The claims are being reviewed due to inconsistencies in previous VA examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee has been reopened, but his bilateral hip condition remains denied. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination and provide an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's left knee condition.

The claims for service connection of left knee, right knee, left ankle, bilateral foot callouses and scars, and right global hand pain have not been reopened.,However, the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is granted. The right knee disability claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right below the knee amputation and depression are remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports in the VA examination records, and a new examination is required to determine the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right hip disability is remanded due to his service-connected right knee and lumbar spine disabilities. The claims for higher ratings of his right knee, left shoulder, lumbar spine, and sinusitis are also remanded as the severity of these conditions may have increased since the last VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from November 2, 2018. The left foot hallux rigidus is rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's chronic epididymitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and left foot drop due to incomplete records, including STRs and SPRs. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical evidence and workers' compensation records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lumbar strain and bilateral patellofemoral syndrome of the knee due to a gap in treatment records between April 2009 and September 2015, as well as the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee injury. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which may be related to an in-service injury in 1989.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities due to outstanding VA or private medical records being needed. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether these disabilities are related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arthritis, disc disease, knee pain, thoracolumbar spine condition, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, have rendered him unemployable since February 13, 2013. His combined disability rating was sufficient to meet the schedular requirement for TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for a right foot disorder and left knee disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee condition should be remanded due to the need for an examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of the condition.

The Veteran's GERD was diagnosed during service and is granted as service connected. The claims for shoulder, back, and knee disabilities are remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation from October 25, 2016 to September 28, 2017. TDIU is granted for this period. The issue of service connection for dizziness/vertigo as a residual of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for a left knee condition and lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for joint swelling and pain in the right elbow has been denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for this condition. The issues of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for DDD of the lumbar spine L5-S1 and an initial compensable rating for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to an inadequate statement of reasons or bases regarding the definition of sedentary work and its application to the Veteran's right knee disability.