Knee decisions — 2019

Service connection for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left hip disability, and right hip disability is denied.,Service connection for left knee condition and right knee condition is denied.,An effective date of January 24, 2013 is granted for service connection for left triceps tendonitis. An earlier effective date prior to August 6, 2012 is denied for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that resulted in these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional opinions and examinations are needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee condition, vision condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heart condition, and high blood pressure.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for left knee problems has been reopened, and the case is remanded. The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse case also needs further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of a left lung disability is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has current residuals of an in-service respiratory illness and grants service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for membranous nephropathy, GERD, and increased ratings for various knee conditions as well as a TDIU was granted. The effective date for the award of service connection for membranous nephropathy is set at March 21, 2008.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorders, including left and right knee chondromalacia and osteoarthritis, have been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims require additional examination to determine their etiology, as well as remanding for further examinations regarding his hip condition, bilateral knee conditions, and left arm condition. The back condition claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 25, 2016 was denied as he was not unemployable during that period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and 38 U.S.C. § 1151 benefits for diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a cervical spine condition, left knee condition, and headaches have been granted. The rating for PTSD has also been increased to 50% effective May 9, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including respiratory disorder (to include asthma), left wrist disability, left hand disability, lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's disability ratings for Right Shoulder Strain and Left Shoulder Strain were restored to 10 percent, effective May 11, 2012. The Veteran's PTSD was granted a TDIU (Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthritis of the left and right knees due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are now pending before the RO.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar stenosis with DDD and bilateral hip and knee conditions, including as secondary to lumbar stenosis. The claims must be remanded to update the electronic file and get an addendum opinion upon receipt of all of the Veteran’s treatment records.

The Board has granted separate 10 percent ratings for the Veteran's right knee disability, but denied service connection for a low back disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the low back disability.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for left and right knee scars have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the cases for further evaluation of his bilateral knee and lumbar spine conditions, as well as a determination on his TDIU claim prior to January 31, 2017.

The Board found that the reduction of the disability rating from 20% to 10% for service-connected residuals of right knee sprain was proper and denied restoration. A separate 10% rating was granted for painful motion due to degenerative arthritis, effective August 18, 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a finding of direct or secondary service connection. The Board also remanded the issue of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a stroke suffered during surgery.