Knee decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee degenerative joint disease and patellofemoral syndrome, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and his active duty service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is presumed to be related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for advanced osteoarthritic changes of the right and left knees were denied as his symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not permanent and total as of September 20, 2016. Therefore, the effective date for her Dependent's Education Assistance (DEA) benefits cannot be earlier than September 20, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine, left knee, and stomach conditions.

The Board has remanded several of the Veteran's claims due to new evidence not previously reviewed by the RO.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examinations in prior decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's left knee disability, finding that the evidence shows arthritis with symptoms that began in service and persisted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right knee degenerative changes, trigger finger in multiple fingers on his left hand, carpal tunnel syndrome in his left wrist, left wrist pain, and tinnitus. The reasons are that VA needs to obtain relevant medical records, provide new VA examinations or opinions regarding these conditions, and consider the Veteran's lay statements about his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left knee instability and chondromalacia was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show moderate or severe instability warranting a higher rating, nor did it show flexion limited to less than 45 degrees.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for an examination and opinion regarding whether his right knee disability is caused or aggravated by his left knee disability.

The Board denied an effective date prior to September 8, 2009 for the award of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis with scars. The December 1970 rating decision denying service connection was not reversed or revised on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board denied service connection for low back and left knee disorders, finding no current diagnoses or functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination and for submission of a VA 21-8940 form.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities which were considered static in nature reached a combined evaluation of 100 percent as of July 1, 2006. The Board found that the criteria for establishment of basic eligibility to Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits were satisfied as of this date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma, bilateral hip disability, left knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, low back disability, neck disability, and acquired psychiatric disability as they were not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee, hip, and back disorders as they are not related to active duty service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an updated examination.