Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, GERD, left knee condition, and right knee condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to new and material evidence received. The left knee, gastrointestinal disorder, and sleep apnea claims are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional VA treatment records and examinations. The Veteran's disabilities have reportedly worsened since his last examination in June 2015.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for left knee instability, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative joint disease due to insufficient development in prior examinations. The Veteran's subjective complaints of instability are not related to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disorder, respiratory disorder, and hernia have been denied. The reduction in the disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 40 percent to 20 percent as of October 1, 2017 was proper.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded, and his effective dates for awards of service connection are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine, left leg, right leg, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, right shoulder, left shoulder, right elbow, and left elbow disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted, but the specific conditions are not related to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including low back disability, bilateral knee disability, left and right ankle disabilities, eye disability, hemorrhoids, and hypothyroidism. The Veteran's reports of in-service injuries and treatment are considered, but further evidence is needed from the VA.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition was previously denied in June 2012. The Board has now reopened the claim due to new and material evidence, but has also remanded it for further development as additional medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings are being remanded as the evidence does not support an earlier effective date.,The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings are also being remanded due to insufficient medical records.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus, foot fungus, and right knee disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of a current disability or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right total knee replacement, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral leg disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's right knee condition, emphysema, benign neoplasm (claimed as spot on lung), and psychiatric condition (depression) are not related to his military service.,Further development is needed for the claims of service connection for a left big toe condition to include arthritis, a right big toe condition to include arthritis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for left ankle disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability was denied in an August 2014 rating decision due to lack of new and material evidence. A remand is necessary as the Board needs to determine if there is a nexus between the service-connected disabilities and the cervical spine disability.,The right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities are also remanded, with the same reasoning as for the cervical spine disability.,The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is also remanded due to lack of new and material evidence. A remand is necessary to determine if there is a nexus between the service-connected disabilities and the psychiatric disorder.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for thoracic strain is also remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability and related issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, leg, and hip conditions due to a lack of probative evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence on the merits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disorder is reopened, and the case is remanded for further development including a VA examination.