Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper and lower extremities, as well as his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left eye disability, have been dismissed.,An effective date of December 17, 1999 has been granted for the award of service connection for left knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's low back disorder is rated at 40 percent from July 1, 2011 to August 15, 2018.,Prior to September 17, 2013, the Veteran’s cervical spine disorder was rated at 10 percent. From September 17, 2013, it is rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's left knee sprain and right knee strain are each rated at 10 percent from July 1, 2011 to August 15, 2018.,Prior to April 5, 2017, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for colorectal adenocarcinoma and gout, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active duty service. The right testicular varicocele, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, left knee disability (tendinosis), and right knee disability (tendinosis and chondromalacia) claims are remanded for further development.,The appellant's current diagnoses include colorectal adenocarcinoma, gout, a right testicular varicocele, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, left knee tendinosis, and right knee tendinosis and chondromalacia. The Board has found that these conditions are not related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for the 2014 calendar year was denied because his right knee brace did not tend to wear out or tear his clothing, despite his assertions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient evidence in the current record, particularly regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his in-service injury during combat operations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for respiratory disorders, right and left hand disorders, as well as shoulder, hip, knee, and foot disorders. The issues have been remanded to obtain a supplemental opinion regarding potential chemical or toxin exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to new evidence received since the last decision. The RO must issue an SSOC with a review of all new evidence.

The Veteran's partial restoration of a 10 percent rating for service-connected right knee instability from April 1, 2013 is granted. The remaining issues involving PTSD, left knee disability, TDIU, and right knee disability are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee chondromalacia. However, the case is remanded for further examination and consideration of initial disability ratings for right and left knee disabilities, as well as the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee meniscal pathology.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence of a current left knee disability and for consideration of functional impairment. The Veteran needs to provide any documentation relating to his claimed left knee condition, and a VA examination is required to determine if there is a current diagnosis and whether it is related to service.

The claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is granted, and the claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury to include TBI is also granted as secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service.

The claim for service connection of a right knee disorder is reopened. The case is remanded to determine the nature and etiology of any current right knee disorder, including whether it is related to military service or secondary to service-connected left knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, and right knee disability are granted. The claim for TDIU is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the right knee meniscal tear and remanded the issue of service connection for prostate cancer. The case is being sent back to obtain radiation exposure records and determine if there is a link between prostate cancer and exposure to ionizing radiation during active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability has been granted. The Board also found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claims of service connection for low back and right hip disabilities, but remanded these issues due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment prior to July 2012, and the Board denied his claim for TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected lower extremity orthopedic disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period November 1, 2010 to March 9, 2013. The Board granted a TDIU based on this.

The Board denied service connection for right knee injury, including right knee anterior cruciate ligament tear and degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disability did not develop as a result of any incident or injury in service.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, but remanded the claims for lumbar spine and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for OSA is granted as it is found to be etiologically related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.