Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims for service connection, increased ratings, and evaluation of hearing loss.

The Veteran's left and right knee degenerative osteoarthritis, as well as his hemorrhoids, are granted service connection. The Veteran is also awarded a 10% rating for his hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions were denied as there was no evidence showing a nexus between his active service and the claimed disabilities, except for bilateral toenail removal which is not considered etiologically related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic left knee arthritis, bilateral shin splints, and a torn left calf muscle as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but he contends that his condition is worse. The VA examiner did not provide an estimate of motion loss in terms of degrees due to the presence of flare-ups and insufficient medical knowledge among the medical community at large.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.,The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.,The Veteran's claim for a sleep disturbance is being deferred pending receipt of requested records, but will be remanded if new evidence is received.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for right bicipital tendonitis and tendon repair scars is being remanded due to the need for additional examination.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for right knee strain with internal derangement status post arthroscopy with residual scar is being remanded due to the need for additional examination.,The Veteran's request for a temporary total evaluation is being remanded due to unclear basis of his claim, and will be deferred pending receipt of requested records.,The Veteran's request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is being remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the right shoulder disability claim and denied the claims for service connection for low back disability (including as secondary to knee disabilities) and increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities. The cases are remanded for further action.

The Veteran's initial ratings for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, and right shoulder tendonitis have been denied as his conditions do not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for status post right knee anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction due to concerns about the adequacy of the March 2017 VA examination and the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, including as secondary to his service-connected right knee and spine disabilities, is granted. The claim for an increased rating for his service-connected DJD of the spine with IVDS remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation. The case is remanded for an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran’s sleep apnea and his active service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, muscle spasms, sleep apnea, and hypertension.,No new evidence was presented to reopen previously denied claims.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disorders due to new evidence received since the August 2006 rating decision. However, the claims are still remanded as further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to potential service connection for a right knee condition, requiring further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's left foot disability is granted a rating of 30 percent prior to September 20, 2010. The Board has found that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether his left ankle strain and right ankle strain are related to service-connected disabilities. His claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of his knees have been remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right knee, left knee, and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examination reports. The Veteran needs new examinations to determine if her current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to May 4, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, left knee, tinnitus, diabetes, and head injury have all been denied.,There is no current evidence of a diagnosed condition in any of these areas.