Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and hypertension (HTN) due to a lack of an SOC addressing the cervical spine claim. The VA is directed to issue an SOC on this matter and obtain all relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, currently diagnosed as major depressive disorder, is granted. The claim for service connection for a right knee disability is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, bilateral knee, and cervical spine disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a current disability related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation of his left knee disability and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are remanded due to the need for additional examinations that comply with VA examination requirements.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in a May 2017 VA medical opinion, and additional development is required.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted service connection.,The effective date for the grant of radiculopathy in the bilateral lower extremities is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow arthritis, right hand arthritis, right hip arthritis, right knee arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, right wrist arthritis, and right ankle arthritis due to a lack of evidence showing current disability attributable to active service. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the issues of service connection for right and left knee disabilities and back disability due to insufficient evidence. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is not addressed as it was not initially raised in this appeal.

The Board has decided to remand two cases involving the Veteran's left knee and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of recent VA examinations, which may provide updated information on the severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant's ACDUTRA service qualifies him for basic eligibility to VA benefits, and his claims for service connection are referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disability, low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received. The effective date for the grant of tinnitus service connection is March 23, 2016.

The Veteran was unable to maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities for the period prior to September 16, 2015. The Board found that the combined effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities is of sufficient severity to have rendered him unable to obtain and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an updated VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's left tibia stress fracture with left knee strain disability throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a supplemental statement of the case regarding his left knee disability. The post-appendectomy scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee condition is related to his in-service injury or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for left hand sprain as secondary to service-connected loss of use of right hand, but denied service connection for bilateral knee disability and peripheral neuropathy of the feet.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted a compensable rating prior to November 7, 2018 and a 20 percent rating since then. The right knee disability is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated noncompensable, effective November 17, 2009.,The Veteran's left knee disability did not meet the criteria for an extension of a temporary total rating after January 31, 2014. The RO has been directed to issue an SOC on this issue.,TDIU prior to August 18, 2012, is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee arthritis is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of January 26, 2001, and the Board granted a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from that date.