Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bursitis tendonitis, left knee. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these disabilities to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disability and service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, to include as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's right and left knee strains with history of shin splints are granted initial evaluations of 10 percent each, effective January 1, 2015.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 50% to 30%, but the Board found this reduction improper and restored the initial 50% rating. The effective dates for separate ratings of 20% and 30% for right knee instability and limitation of extension were also remanded due to incomplete documentation.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, as no VA examinations have been conducted for the Veteran's right knee and spine conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee chondromalacia with patellofemoral pain are denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee is currently rated at 30 percent for limitation of flexion, effective October 24, 2011. He was previously denied a separate rating for lateral instability or recurrent subluxation, ankylosis, malunion of the tibia and fibula, dislocated semilunar cartilage, removal of semilunar cartilage, total knee replacement, or genu recurvatum.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current knee disabilities and his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability and denied it. The left knee disability claim is also denied, with a remand requested to verify an in-service stressor and obtain a VA examination. Service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression is granted.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for a bilateral knee disability. The claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability was reopened, but remanded due to insufficient evidence. The issue of radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and right rotator cuff injury due to outstanding treatment records not being obtained. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records, schedule an addendum opinion if necessary, and conduct any additional development required.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee, right knee, low back, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of dermatophytosis, service connection for left knee condition, and service connection for lumbar condition are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Board has remanded the cases for bilateral knee, back, and hip disabilities, as well as pes planus and hallux valgus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a left knee disability, finding that his condition did not warrant such a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA examinations for the Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities, as well as to address his claim for TDIU due to his service-connected knees.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder, Achilles tendonitis (claimed as bilateral heel pain), and sleep disorder. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any ankle disability and sleep disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids and bilateral knee increased ratings due to incomplete development, including missing records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's right knee condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it did not exhibit severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity, or by recurrent subluxation or lateral instability of the right knee.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left knee chondromalacia were denied as they did not meet the criteria to establish a rating more than 10 percent from June 13, 2005 to December 14, 2010 and April 1, 2011 and continuing thereafter.