Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pes planus, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative joint disease due to potential service connection issues.

The Veteran's right elbow condition and right hip condition are denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee (previously referred to as left patellar enthesopathy) with left posteromedial tibial stress reaction (shin splits) and patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee (previously referred to as right patellar enthesopathy) with right posteromedial tibial stress reaction are denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and cause of the Veteran's bilateral knee condition(s), as well as his service-connected shoulder and back disabilities. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are remanded due to the need for VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be inextricably intertwined with other issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and ratings for the Veteran's knee disabilities due to insufficient examination reports. The left knee disability is being reviewed, as well as the right knee degenerative arthritis and meniscal/ligament tear.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed. His increased rating claim for right knee replacement with residual scar was withdrawn, and his service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea has been reopened due to new evidence but denied.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that the available schedular ratings adequately describe his condition. The Board concluded that an extraschedular rating was not warranted due to the adequacy of the current schedular criteria and lack of evidence of marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Veteran's knees are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his knee conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability has been granted a 50% initial rating, effective January 1, 2010. He is also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The claims for service connection of the right knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, residuals of an intestinal infection, and headache disorder have been withdrawn due to the grant of benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disorders, as well as bilateral pes planus, were granted effective April 4, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal of the right knee scar issue was dismissed.,A separate initial 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee prior to August 10, 2010 was granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date of compensation for service-connected arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease is denied.,Service connection for a lumbar spine condition and bilateral ankle conditions are both denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, knee, and foot conditions are remanded to allow for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that the conditions pre-existed service and were not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the cases of left knee condition, heart condition secondary to hypertension, left elbow dislocation with hypertrophic spur, and fracture of the right fifth metatarsal.

The Veteran's service connection for a back disability is granted. The issues of service connection for bilateral hip and knee disabilities, as well as an increased rating for flatfeet and hearing loss are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition and hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal regarding effective dates earlier than August 7, 2016 for service connection for various conditions was denied.,The Veteran's appeals regarding initial disability ratings were either not addressed or remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability was initially rated noncompensable prior to October 25, 2018. From that date, the Veteran is granted a 10 percent rating for his left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder arthritis and related secondary disabilities. The primary reason was the lack of a current disability linked to service.,There is no evidence of any current left elbow, right elbow, or right shoulder disabilities, nor are there sufficient symptoms that would support such diagnoses.