Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly assess the Veteran's claims for service connection, rating increases, and other issues. The reasons include incomplete or contradictory medical opinions, lack of recent examination reports, and unclear etiology determinations.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete medical records and unverified in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to December 21, 2016, for an increased disability rating for right knee total arthroplasty has been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent each for limitation of extension and flexion of both hips, as well as limitations of abduction and rotation of both hips; a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for right knee disability from February 1, 2018; and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle arthralgia and left knee degenerative arthritis as due to service-connected right knee disabilities, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes cavus and right knee disability. For bilateral pes cavus, the Board found no evidence of aggravation during service or from a service-connected condition. For right knee disability, the claim was reopened but still denied as there is no direct link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for a left hip disorder due to potential aggravation by the right knee disorder.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease was granted service connection effective September 5, 2006. The Board found that the claim for service connection had been pending since September 23, 2003 and entitlement to benefits was demonstrated as of that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left knee, right knee, and back disabilities due to incomplete medical records and new evidence. The Veteran is also being asked to provide updated authorization for VA to obtain private treatment records from providers identified in his previous request.

The claim for service connection of the Veteran's right knee and right ankle conditions has been reopened, but the Board finds that additional opinions are needed to determine if these conditions were caused by or aggravated by her service-connected left knee and right foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate reasoning in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen previously denied service connection claims for various conditions, as well as increased ratings and effective date claims, have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional medical opinions regarding service connection for a left knee disability and the rating of a right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of higher initial ratings for left knee strain, right knee degenerative arthritis, residuals of a right ankle injury, and bilateral pes planus. The issue of entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 28, 2017 is also remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the above issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, and scar, right knee were denied. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acute medial meniscal tear, right knee was noted during his period of active service and has continued since. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims of service connection for left knee disability, low back pain, and migraines was granted. The Board also remanded the claim for service connection for low back pain due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of a clear opinion regarding the etiology of his right knee disability, fatigue, and skin condition. The claims will be reviewed again with additional medical opinions.

The Board dismissed all appeals due to the appellant's withdrawal of her claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected right knee arthroplasty, finding that the evidence did not show chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness.