Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that it is related to his documented in-service left knee issues and continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder and osteochondritis dissecans with degenerative arthritis of the right knee are being remanded due to incomplete information or procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of fibromyalgia. The decision on left knee disability remains denied.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder and other service-connected conditions have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a TDIU rating. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to July 6, 2015 is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's left knee sprain, instability, and scar are granted initial ratings. The Veteran's left ankle strain is granted an initial rating. Bilateral hearing loss remains denied. Service connection for rhinitis, gastrointestinal disorder (GERD), and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Board found that the evidence supports the conclusion that the Veteran's left knee disability was caused by and related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee condition is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a chronic disability in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The right knee condition, however, was diagnosed during service and requires further examination for proper adjudication.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right ankle disability was not rated higher than 10%. Service connection for bilateral knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, and sleep apnea were all denied as new evidence did not relate to the unestablished facts necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence for the Veteran's left knee disability claim.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and bilateral pes planus due to lack of a valid diagnosis for PTSD and the absence of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of her left knee condition, finding that there is no evidence linking her current condition to an in-service injury and that it does not meet the criteria for chronic conditions under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine DJD secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disability was granted. Additionally, the temporary total evaluation of 100% assigned from January 24, 2014 through May 1, 2014 due to right knee surgery convalescence period was also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disorder, left knee strain, and right knee disability is remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The claims are also remanded for a higher rating of the right knee.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and a higher rating for spinal stenosis due to incomplete development of the claims, including the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left calf injury is granted. The claims for right and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities are not currently rated appropriately and requires further examination to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at a 10 percent disability rating effective March 22, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the spine and bilateral knee disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of DJD, left knee is denied as there is no evidence of a left knee injury in service and the current condition is not related to any service-connected disability. The claims for evaluation in excess of 10 percent for DJD, right knee and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain with tenosynovitis, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot disability.