Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded multiple issues on appeal, including the rating for right hip strain, left knee and ankle strains, left tibia stress fracture, acne (claimed as eczema), anemia, and a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran is also requested to provide updated VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left knee disability was granted, with a separate compensable rating of 10 percent assigned for limitation of flexion and lateral instability. The extension issue remains at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and requests for additional records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma, a respiratory disability manifested by cough, colds and upper respiratory infection, abrasion and infection of the right knee, numbness of the left upper leg, and an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD and depression has been denied.,The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of any of these conditions.

Service connection was denied for a back condition and left knee strain. The Veteran's STRs documented complaints, treatments, and diagnoses related to these conditions, but the VA examiners found that the current conditions are not etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and frostbite residuals of the left knee due to incomplete STRs, lack of consideration of lay statements, and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to incomplete records and potential need for a new VA examination. The right knee disorder claim is still pending, as is the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the finally disallowed left knee condition was granted. The issue of service connection for a left knee condition is remanded.

The Board has restored the previous ratings for left total knee replacement and right knee instability, but remanded for further examination of the Veteran's right knee strain.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of left leg osteonecrosis and left knee strain, which are new diagnoses from a January 2019 examination. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these conditions had onset in or are otherwise related to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders due to inadequate examination and missing personnel records. The Veteran must be provided with a new VA examination, and his claim file should include all relevant personnel records related to his service in the U.S. Air Force Reserves.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and back disabilities due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been denied as the evidence does not show compensable limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and right knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been granted, and he is now eligible for a TDIU. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, right eye condition, depression, bilateral foot condition, right knee condition, left shoulder condition, left hip condition, left elbow condition, left knee condition, erectile dysfunction, low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been resolved.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for mechanical low back pain and arthroscopy of the right knee were denied. The rating for mechanical low back pain was denied as it did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under Diagnostic Code 5242, while the rating for arthroscopy of the right knee was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, right hip osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to comply with a recent Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims (Court) opinion.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees with degenerative changes prior to specific dates have been denied.