Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to his left knee condition, is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted.,The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a low back disability is granted.,The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a right knee disability is denied.,The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a left knee disability is denied.,The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a respiratory disability (claimed as asthma) is granted.,The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for allergies is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis with strain was characterized by pain, degenerative changes, limitation of flexion to 130 degrees, and limitation of extension to 0 degrees. The Board found that a rating in excess of 10 percent for the period prior to September 10, 2018, is not warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of chronicity of care during service and denying any causal relationship between his current knee disability and active duty.

The Veteran's gout is granted a 20% rating prior to October 12, 2013. The Board found that the evidence supported this rating based on the Veteran experiencing 1-2 exacerbations per year of his service-connected gout.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted a separate 10 percent rating.,Ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee patellar chondromalacia with arthritis are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.,Service connection for CFS is denied.,The claim for reopening of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is granted, but a new rating will be determined based on additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder tendinitis, obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The conditions are considered to be directly related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability was granted, while the claim for left arm carpal tunnel condition was denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for upper respiratory disability, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, pes planus, acquired psychiatric disability (likely depression and anxiety), and left shoulder disability due to incomplete development. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is also being evaluated.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a right knee disability due to incomplete records and the need for an additional medical opinion. The Veteran's right knee disability is being reviewed on its merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right knee disability, including instability and post-surgical changes. The case is returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including unspecified depressive disorder, low back pain, neck pain, elbow and knee pain, neuropathy of the hands and feet, and seborrheic keratosis, have been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability or link to service for most of these claims.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for unspecified depressive disorder has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a heart disability, right knee disability, diabetes mellitus type II, and PTSD are pending.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral knee/leg disorder, and back disorder with arthritis as the evidence did not show a direct relationship to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of medical evidence on record.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection and increased evaluations, including obtaining updated treatment records from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and providing new VA examinations.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left knee disability and heart condition. The cases are being remanded to allow for a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee arthralgia was incurred during active military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic migraine headaches, but denied service connection for the other conditions listed. The Veteran's hypertension and tinnitus were not shown as chronic in service or within a year of discharge.