Knee decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, bilateral knee pain, and bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.,There was no indication of any in-service event, disease, or injury related to the Veteran's current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to secondary service-connected lower back disability. Additional evidence is needed, including private treatment records from Frankfurt, Germany, and an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral knee and right hip disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disabilities, prostate disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, heart condition, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, osteopenia, cervical spine disability, neurological impairment of the upper extremities, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is being remanded as his prostatitis may be related to his current prostate disability. Additional development is needed regarding whether he has any residual disability from the prostatitis shown in service.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, chronic gastritis with GERD, and hemorrhoids are being remanded as his most recent examinations in August 2017 were inadequate. Additional development is needed to determine the current functional impairment resulting from these disabilities.,

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded for further development regarding his service connection claims and rating issues. The Veteran wishes to withdraw his claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that more evidence is needed to determine if his disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected orthopedic disabilities. His right hip disability remains at a 10 percent rating prior to March 8, 2019.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were remanded due to the need for a functional capacity evaluation considering his service-connected right knee disability and its impact on his employment. The decision will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, low back, and knee disabilities. The claims are being remanded to obtain updated treatment records from Darnall AMC and to schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his right shoulder disability and the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, middle and lower back, and upper back conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, bilateral knee condition, and bilateral foot condition has been denied due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for removal of screws from his right ankle post-surgery was also denied as there is no indication that the surgery caused additional disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals of his service connection claims for tinnitus, back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability remain pending. The AOJ is required to reissue the March 2018 SOCs to the Veteran and schedule him for new examinations regarding these claims.

The Veteran's varicose veins, arthritis of the right knee, and septoplasty residuals with rhinitis are granted service connection. The Veteran is also awarded a 10 percent rating for his septoplasty residuals with rhinitis from December 1, 1974 to June 5, 2002.

The Veteran's claim for service connection was reopened and granted, with the decision to grant service connection for left knee injury, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address the Veteran's contentions regarding his in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and examination to determine if his hip, knee, and foot disabilities are related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disability is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of whether the Veteran's left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, but the claim for tinnitus was reopened and granted. The other claims remain denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip and right knee degenerative joint disease, finding that the conditions are due to repetitive trauma injuries sustained in service.

The Board dismissed the appeal as to a claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 (§ 1151 claim) for a left knee condition because that issue has been granted and rendered moot.