Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total disability rating due to left knee surgery is denied as the evidence does not support requiring more than six weeks of convalescence.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disorder, finding that it was caused by his in-service injury and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, effective June 25, 2010. The rating for GERD remains at 10 percent throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for left and right knee disorders is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of a current disability and because his service qualifies as service in Southwest Asia, which requires consideration of undiagnosed illness. A VA examination is needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his functional impairment caused by his service-connected disabilities, particularly DDD of the lumbar spine. The examiner should consider the impact on his ability to function in an occupational environment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional records from Social Security Administration and VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and assigned an effective date of August 7, 1996. However, the Veteran is still seeking a higher initial rating for this condition. The case is being remanded to issue a supplemental statement of the case addressing this matter.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a right knee disorder and its relation to service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability does not meet the criteria for VR&E benefits as he has overcome its effects through education and work experience, allowing him to maintain stable employment.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for right and left knee disabilities were denied as they are not authorized by law.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, finding no in-service injury and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current condition and any in-service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service.,No effective dates are granted as all claims predate May 3, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examinations and for obtaining updated medical records. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include lumbar spine, left hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, and tinea pedis.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for status post total right knee replacement with instability and a separate 10 percent disability rating for right knee instability. The maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5055 is 60 percent, which accounts for severe painful motion and weakness in the affected extremity.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left leg disability, including the knee. The remand is due to incomplete opinions and missing information regarding whether the preexisting condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as medical opinions regarding the onset and relationship of her claimed disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including internal hemorrhoids, erectile dysfunction, right leg disability, left leg disability, right ankle disability (claimed as Achilles), right knee disability, left knee disability, right elbow disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and hypertension have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses or etiologies related to these conditions that could be linked to service.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the bilateral knees and ankles, finding that the Veteran's parachute jumps during military service contributed to his current disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder and ankle degenerative joint disease on a presumptive basis due to in-service bone studies indicating arthritis. The issue of an increased rating for right knee arthritis is also granted.