Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a left knee disability and awarded service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis. The evidence received since the initial denial in February 2012 includes new and material evidence, as well as medical opinions linking the current condition to active duty service.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as bipolar disorder and PTSD, to include as secondary to a right knee disability, and a right knee disability have been reopened. The RO is directed to obtain the Veteran’s complete VA treatment records and seek his relevant outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as secondary to service-connected pes planus and cold injury residuals. The Veteran's current knee disabilities are being evaluated due to a lack of information on whether her service-connected lower extremity conditions have manifested with foot pronation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities have been reopened, but the Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to support these claims. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature of the Veteran's knee conditions and their relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include PTSD, bilateral ankle/knee disorders, tinnitus, headaches, and low back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and instability were denied as the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent for either condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder secondary to left knee disorder and an increased rating for her left knee disorder due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of adequate range of motion testing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not yet determined whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are denied as they did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and were not caused by military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,For the period prior to November 9, 2015 and from April 4, 2016 onward, the Veteran's asbestos-related pleural plaques do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disorder, a chronic disability manifested by numbness in the legs (peripheral neuropathy), and a right knee disorder.,Further investigation and determination are needed to resolve these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's left hip and right knee osteoarthritis are granted as service-connected.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and ratings for various disabilities, and has remanded issues related to left shoulder, low back, left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for right wrist condition, bilateral knee conditions, and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied. The cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine conditions are also denied.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of contemporaneous treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability is remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination and the Veteran's assertion that his condition has worsened.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate discussion of functional loss during flare-ups and failure to provide retroactive ranges of motion findings.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 9, 2016, for the grant of service connection for PTSD was granted. The rating for PTSD remains at 50 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left hip, and left foot conditions due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.