Knee decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral hands and other joints, finding no evidence that these conditions were incurred in or related to active service. The TDIU claim was granted as the appellant's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding entitlement to an initial compensable rating for service-connected surgical scars of the right knee and whether there was CUE in the September 1994 rating decision that denied compensation based on the character of discharge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions, as well as headaches, secondary to a service-connected lumbar strain have been REMANDED.,Prior to November 23, 2015, the Veteran’s service-connected lumbar strain with DDD and IVDS was rated at 20 percent. After that date, it has been rated at 60 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including a lumbosacral spine disability, right hip disability, right knee disability, bilateral leg disability, headaches, pulmonary embolism, and DVT of the left leg. The appeal is being remanded to obtain appropriate medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities, finding no current disability or in-service event related to these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right foot disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to the need for further medical examination and review of records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of the nature and etiology of the Veteran's symptoms, as well as for additional medical examinations to evaluate his respiratory disability. The claims for service connection are not granted due to lack of a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation, and that the current disabilities were not related to service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and issuance of an SOC regarding increased rating claims.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability. The claims for left ankle, left knee, recurrent chest pain, bilateral shoulder, neck, and bilateral hip disabilities are denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability or that any such disabilities are related to service. Service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinus bradycardia, stomach disability, facial cellulitis, scalp dermatitis, headache, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is also denied.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to service connection and TDIU due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected, and his issues regarding effective dates for migraines and right knee joint, osteoarthritis are remanded due to incomplete STRs.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition, left knee condition, hearing loss, sleep apnea, skin condition, and acquired psychological condition (including post-traumatic stress disorder).,Service connection was not granted because there is no current disability for each of these conditions.

The Veteran's shin splints, left knee disability, right hand arthritis, sleep apnea, and right ulnar nerve lesion are not service-connected.,A VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA medical examinations and the need for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to his injury during service. The case will be returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an opinion from a clinician.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle arthritis, bilateral hip arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right hand/fingers degenerative arthritis as secondary to his service-connected inflammatory arthritis. The preponderance of evidence failed to establish a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is not service-connected, and his right knee degenerative arthritis has been rated at the maximum available rating. The Veteran's thoracolumbar DDD does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left thigh and right knee disorders, but these claims are now remanded due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran is also being asked to provide authorization for VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further examination.