Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left and right shoulder, hip, knee, stomach, leg sciatica, memory loss, low back, and right ear hearing loss disabilities were denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions in service or related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder and knee joint pain as they are not adequately addressed by the May 2017 VA examination. Additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the current diagnoses are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, lower extremity numbness (lumbar radiculopathy), and depression.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including those related to the Veteran's T8 vertebra fracture residuals. The claims are being returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical strain, lumbar strain, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to additional development being required.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating prior to April 20, 2015 based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee strain, anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, and lumbar spine DDD due to lack of a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's right knee strain is secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine DDD. The TDIU claim prior to July 30, 2015, remains part of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on four different conditions have been dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claims for service connection for right knee strain and bilateral shin splints, but has remanded several other issues including back disability, residuals of broken toes, left inguinal hernia repair scar, and left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, left foot disorder, and right foot disorder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a current disability or in-service incurrence for these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including bilateral knee disorders and hearing loss. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his cervical spine and right upper extremity conditions, as well as service connection for various other disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral shin splints due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty, reserve duty, and in-service injuries. The VA must verify these periods and obtain an addendum medical opinion on the etiology of the disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several knee and spine disabilities, as well as his PTSD and depressive disorder have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of a higher rating for persistent depressive disorder prior to October 28, 2016, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter for persistent depressive disorder and PTSD; a higher rating for lumbar spine chronic muscular strain superimposed on degenerative instability; and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as the VA examiner did not provide sufficient information regarding the combined effect of his multiple service-connected conditions on his ability to work.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for right knee strain due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence not having been received. The Veteran's original claim for residuals of a right spontaneous pneumothorax was denied in December 1990, and no new or material evidence has since been submitted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected postoperative neck scars, left ilium graft of right knee and shoulder, residuals of a right shoulder injury, cervical spine disability, and TDIU. The claim for lumbar spine disability was reopened but not granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for his right shoulder strain, right wrist sprain, and right knee disability due to inadequate examinations and failure to consider all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is reopened, but the Board finds that remand is necessary to determine the etiology of his current left knee disability.