Knee decisions — 2019

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for bilateral knee disabilities. The issues of service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, drug dependence, alcohol dependence, and PTSD) are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, right foot, left foot, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current left knee DJD/osteoarthritis and his service-connected peripheral arterial disease with left foot degenerative joint disease.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disability may be related to his service, but needs additional information and a new VA opinion to determine if he was on active duty in 2011 when he reported injuring his knee. The case is being sent back for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine with bilateral radiculopathy. The decision is based on medical opinions that support a relationship between the Veteran's current knee conditions and his service-connected back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee injury and PTSD, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims and concluding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD or other mental disability related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability and painful scar were granted effective June 13, 2013. However, the increased rating for his left knee was denied prior to this date.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection for a psychiatric disability and for the rating of degenerative disc disease, thoracic spine with strain. The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder was reopened but remains pending.

Your increased rating for right knee collateral ligament tear with limitation of motion is denied.,The Veteran's left leg condition, low back condition, and bilateral pes planus are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, finding no evidence of such conditions during or related to military service.

The Veteran's arthritis of the upper and lower extremities is not service-connected.,Osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees has been found to be related to service. The Veteran will receive a separate rating for this condition.,Service connection for hypertension, secondary to PTSD and herbicide exposure, is being remanded for further development.,The Veteran's skin rash disability is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service. Service connection for this condition is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee disorders, right and left ankle disorders, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and a dental disorder, were denied as new and material evidence was not received to establish a nexus to service.,Specifically, the ROs denied reopening of service connection for these conditions based on lack of medical nexus to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and anemia. The evidence does not support finding that any of these conditions are related to active service or events therein.,There is no current diagnosis of a chronic left ankle disorder or arthritis, nor was such found within one year following separation from active duty.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, and wrist conditions claimed as due to exposure to hazards during the Persian Gulf War. The Veteran's joint pain is attributed to his service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bathroom modifications, including a walk-in shower with safety bars, are medically necessary to provide access to essential lavatory and sanitary facilities due to his service-connected disabilities. The improvements were completed prior to VA authorization but deemed necessary for his health and safety.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, right knee disability, asthma, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were not granted. The claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability was denied. The claim for an effective date prior to April 13, 2015, for PTSD rating increase was remanded.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an evaluation for his service-connected right total knee arthroplasty between January 23, 1995 and June 1, 2010 has been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for right knee scars and remanded the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia. The case is now pending with the AOJ for further development.