Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and PTSD, to include as due to MST. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on her military service. Further verification of all periods of military service, including ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA, should be accomplished. VA examinations are also needed to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to MST and any right knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen the claim for service connection for a chest infection with breathing problems was dismissed. The claims for service connection for left foot pain, left knee pain, high blood pressure, and various lower extremity disabilities were granted. The remaining issues of service connection for low back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,Left hip lateral greater trochanteric bursitis, degenerative joint disease, right hip greater trochanteric bursitis, left knee disability (arthralgia), and left ear hearing loss are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and neck disorder, but has remanded these issues due to inadequate evidence.

The Veteran's initial rating for a left knee disability prior to February 16, 2015, and the subsequent rating from April 1, 2016, are being remanded due to insufficient examination records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for left knee and right foot disabilities, but denied service connection for these conditions. The Veteran’s diabetes mellitus, Type II and peripheral neuropathy are being remanded due to a recent Court decision regarding presumptive service connection for Vietnam-era veterans.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, diagnosed as patellofemoral degenerative joint disease, is not related to his service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to in-service injury or exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, low back disability, left knee disability, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury. The evidence submitted was found to be insufficient to reopen these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a left knee injury due to inadequate examination opinions and need for additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his bilateral knee disability due to insufficient information regarding the current severity of his service-connected knee disabilities, particularly during flare-ups.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral ear hearing loss, right hip condition, and left knee condition. The claims are being remanded to obtain necessary medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, COPD, left and right elbow disabilities, left and right shoulder disabilities, and bilateral knee disabilities due to lack of evidence of a current disability. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and left knee disability, finding that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims. The Board also found no link between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee DJD, migraines, ureteropelvic junction obstruction, hypertension, and hearing loss, prevented him from securing or following any form of substantially gainful employment prior to February 12, 2009. The Board granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow, left knee, and right knee disabilities based on evidence showing current diagnoses of these conditions and a reasonable possibility that they are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and an increased evaluation for lumbar strain, finding no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including low back, knee, leg, and hip disabilities. The decision also dismissed his claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus.