Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was granted. The claims for right knee disability and gastrointestinal disorder were remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was reopened and granted. His right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, with no specific rating assigned for limitation of extension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ear disorder, temporary total evaluation based on surgical treatment for the right ear in 2007, an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for cervical spine degenerative joint disease with disc space narrowing and mild spondylosis, an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease prior to June 1, 2016 (excluding a temporary total evaluation from April 28, 2015, to May 31, 2016), and an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a total left knee replacement on or after June 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various foot, knee, and hip conditions that are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle fracture. The claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions considering the Veteran's lay statements.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, a knee disorder, and PTSD due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The VA will review these claims again after obtaining updated treatment records and conducting further evaluations.

The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints, treatment, or diagnoses for left clavicle and right ankle disorders. The only evidence of these conditions is a post-service motor vehicle accident in 2007.,For cervical spine, lumbar spine, and knee disorders, the Veteran has current diagnoses but there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral knee and ankle disorders, liver failure, prostate cancer, multiple myeloma, respiratory cancer, and soft tissue sarcoma. The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities are remanded due to a lack of proper procedural steps in the initial rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his service-connected mental condition, left knee degenerative changes, right knee degenerative changes, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for right ankle/foot disability, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, type II diabetes mellitus (DM), and bilateral eye disabilities due to inextricably intertwined issues with the predicate issue of entitlement to service connection for right ankle/foot disability. The TDIU claim is also deferred.

The Veteran was denied service connection for Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the left knee in May 1974. The claim was reopened and granted effective December 2, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee DJD, left knee DJD, lumbar spine DDD, and right plantar fasciitis have been granted. The evidence submitted since the May 1995 rating decision is considered new and material as it relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for various knee, leg, hip, and lung disabilities. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, emphysema, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were all denied.,The Board also denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for sigmoid diverticulosis with chronic constipation and dermatophytosis and onychomycosis of the bilateral feet.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a bilateral knee condition, finding that there is no evidence to support these claims. The Board also remanded two issues: one regarding the propriety of reducing the rating for the Veteran’s service-connected lumbar spondylosis disability, and another concerning the Veteran's bilateral foot condition (including retrocalcaneal exostosis).

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the examination report, specifically regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disability. The claim for an increased rating is now pending and will be reconsidered after obtaining additional information from the Veteran and reviewing her VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a left knee disability, secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis right leg with history of right patellar fracture. The Veteran's current left knee degenerative arthritis was found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected right leg condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various conditions, including left knee osteoarthritis, right shoulder disability, right knee strain, allergic rhinitis, and migraines, were denied. The decisions are based on the current severity of these conditions as determined by VA examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability, and his spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are also secondary to his service-connected right ankle and left knee disabilities. Service connection has been granted for these conditions.