Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to outstanding questions that have not been addressed. A VA medical opinion is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any right and/or left knee disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disability should be remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination to assess the current level of severity of his service-connected left knee strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for right knee degenerative joint disease and instability due to inadequate reasons and bases in the prior decision, specifically regarding functional loss.

The Veteran's right knee disability is now rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of decision.,PTSD was granted a 70 percent evaluation prior to December 22, 2016, and a total rating for PTSD since April 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and rating actions due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee instability has been dismissed. The appeals for increased ratings for right knee DJD and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee internal derangement. The issue is now remanded for further development, including a VA examination.,The Veteran’s PTSD rating remains at 30 percent, but his case is also being remanded for an additional examination to determine if his current symptoms are due to in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion. The examiner must determine if any current knee disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral feet degenerative joint disease, pes planus, and retrocalcaneal heel spurs, or sural/peroneal neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inaccurate factual premise in a previous VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder. The case needs further development and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and new evidence. The issues include psychiatric disorders, migraine headaches, right knee disorder, low back disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is required for the Veteran's left knee disability and cervical spine disability, as well as an appropriate VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current right knee disability. The issues of service connection for left knee disability, increased rating for right knee condition, and higher evaluation for degenerative joint and disc disease, thoracolumbar spine with IVDS are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for laceration to palm of left hand was denied, and the Board recommended remanding his bilateral knee condition claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee condition is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was granted effective July 17, 2012. The decision is based on the merits of his case and not due to any presumption or reopening of an old claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for hypertension, left knee disorder, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including a low back disorder, left and right knee disorders, sleep disorder, and psychiatric disorder. The claims are being reviewed due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions have been denied. The claim for tinnitus was granted with a 10% rating, but the effective date is prior to July 18, 2016.,Other claims for service connection or increased ratings were either not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence or denied outright.

The reduction from a 50% to a 10% disability rating for right knee strain with limitation of motion was proper due to improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's right achilles tendon disability and hypertension are denied initial compensable ratings.,The Veteran's cervical spondylosis with left upper extremity radiculopathy, sciatica, lumbosacral strain, left knee patellar tendonitis (left knee disability), and chronic cough not related to asthma or seasonal allergic rhinitis (chronic cough) are remanded for further review.,The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spondylosis with left upper extremity radiculopathy, sciatica, lumbosacral strain, left knee patellar tendonitis (left knee disability), and chronic cough not related to asthma or seasonal allergic rhinitis (chronic cough) are remanded.