Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of left hip and right knee disabilities, as these issues were previously remanded. The VA examinations did not adequately consider post-service treatment records and lay statements.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including chondromalacia and osteoarthritis post ACL repair, was rated at 20 percent prior to March 15, 2016. The appeal is denied for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, tinnitus, heart disability, hypertension, peripheral artery disease (left lower extremity), peripheral artery disease (right lower extremity), and stroke residuals were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.,Service connection was also denied for an initial compensable rating for surgical scars of the posterior torso and effective dates prior to specific dates for various service connection awards.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, left knee chondromalacia patella, tension headaches, and psychiatric disability (Generalized anxiety disorder and Anxiety disorder NOS). A rating of 10 percent but no more for hypertension is also granted. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus has been withdrawn.

The Board is remanding the cases of the Veteran's bilateral shoulder and knee conditions due to incomplete service treatment records. The AOJ must attempt to locate these records, either from military or civilian sources.

The Veteran's claims for neck pain, chest pain with breathing difficulty, sleep apnea, and bilateral knee disorder have been granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus was granted effective June 26, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is related to his time in bootcamp during service.

The Board has dismissed the issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a December 26, 2000 RO rating decision to assign an effective date of August 16, 2000 for service connection for left knee disability. The case is REMANDED for consideration of the specific CUE issue regarding whether there was CUE in a March 15, 2002 RO rating decision assigning a 10 percent rating for the service connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability is denied. The right knee disability remains on appeal and will be remanded.

The claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder is granted. The claims for service connection of left and right knee disorders are denied.

The Veteran's gouty arthritis of the left foot is granted with a rating of 20 percent from September 17, 2008 to May 7, 2015. The Board has remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding private treatment records and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his back, hip, knee, and arthritis disabilities as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain a supplemental opinion regarding the Veteran's knee disabilities, specifically addressing the functional limitations during flare-ups.

The Board has granted service connection for lateral subluxation and femoral nerve impairment of the left knee, with effective dates set at May 3, 2003. Service connection was established based on a combination of medical evidence and continuity of symptoms since 1976.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities, as well as his claims for service connection for hip conditions and TDIU prior to April 4, 2016, require additional development. The effective dates of the granted service connection will be determined based on the evidence received.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability was denied as the evidence did not show limitation of extension or flexion to levels warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disability, right ankle disability, and pulmonary tuberculosis due to lack of evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and service.,Service connection was denied for all three conditions as there is no evidence showing they began during or were otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, bilateral foot disability, bilateral knee disability, joint pain, chronic fatigue syndrome and headaches has been granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot disability, right foot disability, bilateral ankle and lower leg pain (claimed as joint pain), and headaches have been remanded.