Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, neck, and low back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, a right knee disability, and left and right foot disabilities due to lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and verifying PTSD stressors. The VA will also schedule examinations to assess the current severity of his thoracolumbar spine disability and other claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and scars require additional examination to determine the current severity of these conditions. The VA examinations will also assess the functional impairment due to flare-ups and provide retrospective measurements prior to November 14, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection are being remanded due to the complexity of the issues.,Service connection has not been granted for an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness due to exposures in the Gulf War.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee pain due to a possible association between his current knee disabilities and his military service. The RO is instructed to obtain medical records, schedule the Veteran for VA examinations, and address whether any preexisting conditions existed prior to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected right total knee replacement and scars, finding that there was no evidence showing that the left knee disorder was caused or aggravated by these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee disability, left great toe disability, and bilateral foot numbness due to a total left knee replacement. The VA is required to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities and their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is granted in this regard.,PTSD symptoms have been found to more nearly approximate total occupational and social impairment, warranting an initial 100 percent disability rating effective August 17, 2010.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a back disability. The neck, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral elbow disabilities were denied as not incurred in or due to service. Service connection was granted for sleep apnea and headaches, but denied for acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee strain due to outstanding private medical records and the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's neck disability has been granted service connection, with the decision to reopen the claim based on new evidence of a relationship between current symptoms and service. The right hand disability also received service connection.,Issues related to TBI residuals, neck disability (secondary to football injuries), left leg disability (secondary to knee disability), and left foot disability (manifested by numbness) secondary to knee disability remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, which was not provided in a previous examination.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to insufficient development and evidence. The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including right flat foot, tinnitus, and knee strain, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including effective date determinations and evaluations for various disabilities. The Veteran is also being asked to provide new evidence in support of his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to incomplete medical records, lack of a full rationale in the previous VA examination, and new arguments regarding his left ankle disorder. The issues include psychiatric disorders, lumbosacral spine disorders, left knee disorders, left ankle disorders, right knee disorders, and TDIU.

The Veteran's depression is granted as service connected. The cases of right knee disability, asthma, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded for further development.

The appeal for service connection for colon cancer is dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for PTSD, but the claim for a low back disability remains denied as new and material evidence was not received.,Service connection for a dental condition is denied due to lack of compensable disability.,The appeal for service connection for left knee disability is remanded.,The appeal for service connection for right knee disability is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptoms.