Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right little finger laceration is denied.,Service connection has been granted for right knee osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis as secondary to right knee osteoarthritis, and low back strain as secondary to right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete STRs and a need for further development regarding the left knee disability petition. The right knee disability claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left knee chondromalacia claim was denied as the evidence did not show flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, which would warrant a higher rating. Service connection for hemorrhoids, testicular disability, and prostate cancer (and/or residuals) were also denied due to lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions and exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination report is inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is at least as much evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral degenerative arthritic changes of the knees, and thus grants this claim.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities should be remanded due to incomplete records from her first period of active duty. The VA will need to obtain these records and provide a new examination if necessary.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for the period prior to June 5, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities. The issue of TDIU after June 5, 2018 is moot as he already has a combined schedular evaluation of 100%.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a low back injury and right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship to active service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because he failed to report for a VA examination without good cause, and the Board found that entitlement could not be established in this case without current VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, low back disability, left knee disability, bilateral foot disability, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The decision also found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claim for residuals of a right knee injury.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for status post hairline fracture of the left medial patella and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus have been dismissed.,The Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for right knee, right hip, left hip, and acquired psychiatric disabilities are granted. The claims for nerve condition, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, arthritis, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability remain pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shoulder, lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and right foot disorders due to inadequate VA examination reports. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence or treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right knee disorder, and anxiety disorder have been granted. The decision also remanded the claims for PTSD, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand, and residuals of a muscle biopsy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral toenail onychomycosis, Type II diabetes mellitus, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, bilateral hip disorder, left knee DJD, right knee DJD, and hypertension due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating as they are inextricably intertwined with the issues of entitlement to an extraschedular rating for his right ankle disability.,The Veteran is being asked to undergo additional examinations to determine the severity of his cervical spine, bilateral knee, forearm, and thigh disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for a left knee brace and skin medications as there was no evidence showing that these items caused wear and tear to his clothes or irreparable damage to his outer garments.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was previously denied. The Board found new and material evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating this claim. A rating in excess of 50% for PTSD is granted from June 14, 2012 to November 3, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for prostate disability, Parkinson’s disease, squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip, squamous cell carcinoma of the left ear, left knee disability, tumor on the chin, and facial tumor as there was no evidence of in-service injury or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was reopened, and the case is remanded for further development. The Veteran's PTSD rating remains under review.