Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability due to further development being needed, including a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and cervical spine disorder with headaches. The claims are now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records, military personnel records, and examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of Type II Diabetes Mellitus and remanded other issues related to knee disabilities. The reduction in combined rating from 100% to 90% was found to be proper, but reinstatement is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of right knee condition has been granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his right ankle limitation of motion is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been granted, with the exception of bilateral hip condition which was denied due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current disability and active service.

The Board has found that the VA examinations provided were insufficient to resolve the service connection claims for left knee degenerative arthritis and hypertension, as well as the increased rating claim for chronic dermatitis. The Veteran's symptoms have not been adequately addressed in the examination reports.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral knee impairment and hepatitis C, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a link to service. The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 10 percent.,The Board has remanded the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for acne scars due to insufficient information regarding the characteristics of disfigurement.

The Board has determined that additional medical records are needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claims, and remands for further development are ordered.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability and right knee disability are denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support their onset or relationship to service.,Service connection for PTSD is also denied, with an initial rating in excess of 50 percent being denied due to lack of objective medical findings of a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, which existed prior to service, was aggravated by his time in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to comply with the requirements set forth in Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016), and to determine the current severity of the Veteran's left knee conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of recent evidence.

The Board has granted separate ratings of 10 percent for right knee meniscal tears and degenerative arthritis with popliteus tendonitis, but denied a higher rating for right knee chondromalacia.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine condition, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and hypertension are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability and remanded it for further development. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 100% since March 18, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability has been reopened, but the issue of service connection for a left knee disability remains pending. The Board has ordered remand to obtain additional medical opinions and treatment records.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to October 19, 2011.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and a need for further development, including scheduling an examination of the Veteran's right fibula fracture residuals.