Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's dizziness and acquired psychiatric condition are granted service connection, but her cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, left knee, right knee, and dyspareunia conditions remain unresolved due to insufficient evidence.

Your claims for service connection have been dismissed as you did not file an adequate substantive appeal.,The Board has determined that your appeals were not properly filed, and thus lacks jurisdiction to consider the issues.

The Veteran's gout and hypertension were denied as they are not shown to have begun during service or be related to service.,Service connection for weight gain was denied as it is not a compensable disability. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the knees were also denied, with ratings remaining at 10%.

The Veteran's claims for low back, left knee, and right knee disorders are remanded due to the submission of new service treatment records. The claim for increased PTSD ratings is also remanded as there are no recent VA treatment records or updated examinations.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis with instability is rated at 30 percent from November 4, 2012, and the appeal for a higher rating is granted. The Veteran previously had a 20 percent rating from March 19, 2008 to November 3, 2012, and now has a 10 percent rating for noncompensable flexion limitation.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his degenerative arthritis of the right knee is remanded due to insufficient information regarding functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and PTSD, anxiety, and depression has been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The case will be reviewed again with the provision of proper notification and a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for muscle pain and joint pain, as well as a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability, have been dismissed.,The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and requests for additional development, including a new VA examination of the right knee disability.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to her service-connected PTSD, and the Board finds that it was aggravated by this condition.,There is no direct evidence linking the left knee disability to service. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of osteoarthritis but no in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's right and left knee plica syndrome have been evaluated at 10 percent since August 26, 2010. The Board found that the conditions did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral knee and right hip disabilities are related to his active service, including any in-service injury from a fall.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issues of right knee disability and right knee scars due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's claimed bilateral lower extremity numbness, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, and right shoulder disability are not service-connected as they do not have a direct link to his military service.,The Veteran's claimed lumbar spine disability is also not service-connected.

The Veteran's increased ratings for cervical radiculopathy and service connection claims for tinnitus, left knee disorder, and hypertension were denied. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records and conduct examinations for OSA and migraine disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee strain and PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability has been reopened and granted. The appeal is denied for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability, and the claim for a compensable rating for his umbilical hernia is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for Reiter’s syndrome, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral foot disability. The most probative evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran was granted a rating of 60 percent for his right total knee replacement since September 13, 2017. He is not entitled to a higher rating as the one-year period following the surgery has expired.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of more than slight instability or other compensable manifestations. Therefore, a higher rating is denied.