Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various joint disabilities, including right shoulder, left elbow, left knee, and bilateral foot disabilities. The Veteran submitted additional evidence in June 2017, which he requested be reviewed by an agency of original jurisdiction before the Board's consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations, particularly regarding his right knee laxity. The other issues are currently pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right knee pain/stiffness, as well as his back disability (scoliosis), due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting further exposure assessments. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including shoulder disabilities, erectile dysfunction, knee disabilities, and foot disabilities, all of which are claimed to be secondary to cervical spine and/or lumbar spine disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions have been incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the existing disability ratings adequately reflected his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, left knee condition, right knee condition, and a low back condition due to in-service complaints. The claims are now reopened but need further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include anxiety and depression, are denied as there is no credible evidence of in-service stressors or a nexus between current diagnoses and service.,The Veteran's claims for low back disorder, left knee disorder, and residuals of a left leg injury are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain an addendum opinion addressing his service connection claims, specifically regarding OSA, bilateral knee disorders, and a skin disorder. The claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings and entitlement to TDIU are being remanded due to the pending reduction issues. The RO must issue a SOC regarding the reductions in disability ratings for limitation of extension in each knee and left knee instability, effective November 1, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected back and right knee disabilities have worsened, and he should be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy and lung disability, have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms.,Service connection is only granted if there is medical evidence linking the current condition to an injury or disease incurred during active duty. The Veteran's claims are based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange (AO) herbicides, but the Board found no direct link between any claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's right knee, lumbar spine, and obstructive sleep apnea claims are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,The Veteran's left foot disability claim is remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected left knee joint osteoarthritis, right knee joint osteoarthritis, and bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim is also on appeal due to its connection with the rating issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease was granted, with the effective date being prior to May 2, 2017. The claims for left knee strain, right knee strain, left thumb disability, fracture of the ring and little finger of the right hand, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, and generalized anxiety disorder were all granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The VA examination did not comply with the requirements in Sharp v. Shulkin and Mitchell, so the case is being remanded for a new evaluation that considers flare-ups and their impact on function.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that the current condition is not related to his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability with total left knee replacement as secondary to his service-connected right knee arthritis with total right knee replacement. The claim for sleep apnea is remanded.