Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the reduction of the disability evaluation for status post anterior cruciate ligament injury, left knee from 20 percent to noncompensable effective June 1, 2016. The evidence showed no medical evidence of instability and only minimal subjective complaints.

The Veteran's claim for a low back condition has been reopened and remanded. The claims for muscle pain, joint pain, bilateral ankle pain, bilateral knee pain, and chronic fatigue syndrome have also been remanded.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings to 20 percent each, effective as of the date of this decision.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression), and low back disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the Board's failure to consider it prior to August 16, 2015. The case will be reconsidered along with other pending claims.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee condition, which may be related to his active duty service. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, left knee, and hypertension disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypercholesterolemia and remanded other claims related to his knee, glaucoma, groin rash, peripheral vascular disease, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) has been granted, and he is also entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The MDD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination, and the Veteran's right knee arthritis is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected mixed connective tissue disease (Marfan syndrome) has been granted separate ratings for multiple joint disabilities, including right and left knee pain and limited flexion, right and left ankle pain and limited range of motion, right and left hand/finger pain and limited range of motion, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in a previous VA examination, and a new medical examination is required.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal, finding that his request to withdraw service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability was valid. The claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral knee disability were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's knee disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right varicose vein disability and left knee disability, to include residuals of a torn medial meniscus due to additional development being needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to incomplete records and need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the schedular criteria.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted service connection. The low back disability is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher initial rating for left knee disability and an earlier effective date for low back disability due to incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to assess the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted. The Board is remanding the rating claims for additional examinations to assess the functional impact of flare-ups on his knee and lumbar spine disabilities.