Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for left and right knee arthritis due to the death of the claimant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right elbow and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports, requiring further evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening of service connection for various conditions, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for a low back disability and an initial compensable rating for left knee disability due to incomplete examination opinions and lack of recent treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for right and left knee injuries. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is reopened, but denied.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain, patellar tendonitis of the left knee, and patellar tendonitis of the right knee are being remanded for additional development to determine their current severity.

The Board has decided to remand several claims for further development due to incomplete service treatment records and untranslated Spanish documents. The Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, left ankle, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depressive disorders), right knee meniscal tear, and hypertension claims are being returned for additional examination and review.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his knee disabilities do not warrant ratings in excess of the current assigned ratings.,The Veteran's tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss are all rated at their maximum levels.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, dyslipidemia, low back disorder, DJD of the hips, knees, ankles, and feet, skeletal body pain, diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and hypertension were all denied as they are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for service connection and veteran status due to incomplete records, including missing service treatment records and private medical records. The Board will obtain these records and seek a VA medical opinion to determine if the appellant was disabled from a right knee injury incurred in line of duty during his ACDUTRA period.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the award of a 20% rating for limitation of extension of his right knee. The Board finds that no such claim was pending prior to April 20, 2015 and thus denies the request for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions have worsened since his last examination, and he should be provided an opportunity for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient examination findings. The examiner did not adequately address the Veteran’s reports of an in-service motor vehicle accident (MVA) and bilateral knee problems during and following service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and back injury have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's arthritis of the left knee, sleep apnea, and left and right foot conditions are all found to be related to his active service.,A separate rating for instability of the right knee is granted prior to October 26, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, bilateral knee disorders (left and right), left ankle disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, iritis, and tinnitus are related to service.,Service connection is granted for a low back disorder, bilateral knee disorders (left and right), left ankle disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, iritis, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, back, bilateral knee, and bilateral hand disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The VA will determine if these conditions are related to her hepatitis C or aggravated by it.

The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus and chronic left tennis elbow with recurrent adhesions, status post ulnar nerve transposition are currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for these conditions.,The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain with degenerative arthritis requires further examination to determine if he has a severe disability warranting an increased rating.

The Board has ordered the AOJ to take additional development actions related to the Veteran's claims for service connection for ingrown toenails, a right knee disability, and adjustment disorder prior to December 12, 2011. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all outstanding records, including medical records from private sources if requested by the Veteran. They are also asked to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his current right knee disability and bilaterally ingrown toenails. Additionally, an addendum opinion is needed regarding whether any service-connected disabilities cause or aggravate the ingrown toenails.

The claim of service connection for a left knee disability has been reopened, but the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and insomnia have been remanded due to lack of medical evidence.