Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of cold weather injury to the bilateral feet, right knee injury, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The claim for left knee injury is denied. The claim for spinal stenosis (low back disability) has been remanded.,Residuals of a right knee injury, bilateral hearing loss, and spinal stenosis were all granted service connection. The Veteran's claim for residuals of cold weather injury to the bilateral feet remains pending as new evidence was not received. The left knee injury claim is denied.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's low back strain, but remanded cases regarding his left shoulder impingement and right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD was granted. The issue of an initial rating higher than 10 percent for degenerative arthritis and tendonitis of the left knee is remanded.

The Veteran is granted a separate compensable disability rating of 20 percent for a cartilage condition of the left knee and a separate compensable disability rating of 10 percent for limitation of motion of the left knee from March 18, 2009.

The Veteran's Reiter’s syndrome, left and right knee degenerative joint disease, and hand disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations. The case is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and low back disabilities have been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it is more likely than not incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left knee strain case was remanded, while the migraine headaches case resulted in a rating decision denying an increase to more than 30 percent. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD and knee conditions have resulted in a higher initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD, effective October 21, 2013. He has also been granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee instability, bilateral chondromalacia patella ratings, and TDIU due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale provided in the previous rating decision and duty-to-assist errors. The issues of service connection for various orthopedic injuries and malaria are being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis and service connection for plantar fasciitis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions due to inadequate examination and missing STRs.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right knee, left foot, and right foot disorders due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders due to potential issues with the VA examiner's opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current knee conditions and his service-connected lumbar sprain, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and left hip bursitis.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for DJD of the left and right knees, finding that the evidence did not support such a rating.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right elbow, left knee, and right knee disabilities, as well as respiratory conditions including asthma, bronchitis, and sinusitis, have been granted. Service connection has also been established for GERD. However, the claim for a higher initial rating in excess of 0 percent for a right wrist disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for right and left knee disabilities due to a lack of readjudication after obtaining VA examination results. The Veteran's increased rating claims are now pending again.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as hypertension. The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence rather than presumptive exposure or secondary to a pre-existing condition.

The Board has denied service connection for sinus bradycardia and remanded the issues of service connection for left eye trauma, residuals of a fracture of the right femur, left knee joint disability, and right knee joint disability.