Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar spinal stenosis with osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease has been granted, with a 60% disability rating effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder and left knee disorders, finding no chronic residuals from in-service injuries.,New evidence submitted after the denial reopened the claims but did not provide new or material evidence to support a direct service connection.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any diagnosed right and left knee disorders, as no such opinion was provided in the previous rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus was dismissed as the claim had been fully granted with a maximum schedular rating. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, was reopened due to new evidence received since the previous denial in December 2010. Service connection for a left knee disability is denied, while service connection for a right knee disability remains pending with remand. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his right knee disability is also pending with remand. Service connection for bilateral hip disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The left hip condition is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion from a medical professional regarding its relationship to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, bilateral knee, and tinnitus conditions were denied in a November 2013 rating decision. The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims, and the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right thumb, left knee, and right knee disabilities have been denied. The case has been remanded for further examination to determine the nature of his current knee disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection, but his Tietze’s syndrome and left knee disability are denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding the left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and interstitial lung disease, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted a higher level of special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective November 9, 2016. The Board also granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of left knee, right wrist, right hand, and right knee disorders has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claim. The appeals for right wrist, right hand, and right knee disorders are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The claims for service connection of the right hip disorder, right knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip and knee conditions, finding that they were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missing service treatment records and requests for additional information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee arthritis was denied in June 2012 and July 2014. The Board found that the Veteran did not submit a timely NOD or new and material evidence within one year of these decisions, making them final. As such, an effective date earlier than July 5, 2016 (the date of his TDIU claim) is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings have been denied. The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and headaches are not service-connected.,Right knee osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent, but the claim for a higher rating is remanded. Maxillary sinusitis with allergic rhinitis has been granted an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for right knee scarring and the assignment of earlier effective dates for service connection were dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for his right knee instability was also dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for tinnitus, back disability, bilateral pes planus, allergic rhinitis, migraines, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and degenerative changes of the right shoulder.

The Board has determined that the May 2017 VA examination is inadequate for rating purposes and a new examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.