Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions. The issues include service connection for a low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, radiculopathy, onychomycosis of the toenails, and a skin disorder (claimed as peeling skin on fingers).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and NSC pension benefits due to deficiencies in the previous VA examination and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities were reduced, but the reductions are upheld as there is no evidence of improvement in his symptoms.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's claims for a right knee disability and a left knee disability. The claim of service connection for skin cancer is granted, but the issue of a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral elbow, wrist, knee, ankle disabilities and lumbar disability due to lack of compliance with prior remand directives. A VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The appeal for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus is dismissed. Headaches are not productive of prostrating attacks and do not warrant a compensable rating. Service connection for left knee strain and right knee disability is denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or related to service. The Veteran's current right knee disability is remanded due to the lack of a diagnosis in the medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's hypertension was not rated higher than 10% prior to June 6, 2019. From June 6, 2019, the rating for hypertension remains at 10%. The knee issues have been remanded.,The low back strain and IVDS issue has also been remanded.

The Veteran's lung cancer was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicide agents during service. Service connection for left and right knee disorders were denied due to lack of in-service event, injury or disease. An initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was not granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and ankle disabilities, skin conditions, and hair loss. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to provide a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions, including gout, hypertension, GERD and IBS, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right knee status post anterior cruciate ligament repair, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right lower extremity surgical scars. The Veteran contends that he should have higher initial ratings for these disabilities.

The Board dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's service connection and rating for various knee conditions, surgical scars, and TDIU due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA opinions and inaccuracies in factual premises. The Veteran seeks service connection for right knee, esophageal, left hand numbness, and right hand numbness disabilities related to his active duty service during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient development. The Veteran's reports of symptoms will be considered, but a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service or aggravation by another condition.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee condition and a lower back condition, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service, and the Veteran's current conditions are not causally related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically whether it is related to service or secondary to a pre-existing left knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed for the Veteran's bilateral knee and right leg disabilities, as well as his spinal disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues of service connection and TDIU have also been remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a bilateral knee disability due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left knee disability, skin disorder, and headache disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed as he withdrew the appeal and did not specify any issues to be appealed.