Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD is granted, and the Board finds that his current symptoms are causally related to an in-service stressor. The claims for left knee injury, sinus disability, and low back disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee injury and right knee injury have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.,An initial compensable rating for eczema of the legs has also been denied due to insufficient evidence showing the condition is more than 1% covered on exposed areas or requiring systemic therapy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with major depressive disorder and lumbar spondylolysis, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. Effective May 13, 2011, the Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disorders have been granted. However, the conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability has been reopened. The claims for increased ratings of the lumbar spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and depressive disorder have all been granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, as the previous VA examinations were inadequate. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral knee disability, chronic irregular heartbeat, and hypertension, all potentially related to his military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for cervical spine disorder, headache disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorder (IBS), lower left extremity neuropathy, and upper left extremity neuropathy have been granted. Service connection is now established for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for a skin disorder and granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, left lower extremity below-the-knee amputation, peripheral vascular disease, and blood clot disorder. The remaining issues are remanded to obtain treatment records and provide an opinion on the nature of the Veteran's heart disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an examination, but has not yet made a final decision on whether service connection should be granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee conditions and sinusitis due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination reports.

The Board has decided that the restoration of a 20 percent rating for service-connected degenerative joint disease, right knee is granted. The issue of an increase in rating above 20 percent remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lumbar traumatic arthritis and left knee reconstruction have been dismissed due to withdrawal.,The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to September 17, 2013 for PTSD has been remanded as the Board cannot adjudicate it without first determining if there was clear and unmistakable error in a previous rating decision assigning that effective date.,The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to July 12, 1999 for migraine headaches and hemiplegic migraines has also been remanded as the Board cannot adjudicate it without first determining if there was clear and unmistakable error in a previous rating decision assigning that effective date.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, right knee, and left knee as secondary to service-connected bilateral feet and ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to asthma, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee injury with arthritis, status post repair of tendon rupture are remanded due to outstanding records and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a rating increase are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for right and left knee disorders, right and left foot disorders, and a stomach disorder due to inadequate VA medical opinions.,The Veteran's lay statements regarding her pain during service have not been considered in the VA medical opinions.