Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that new evidence supports reopening of her previous denied claims. The Board also found that there is a reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran regarding whether her current knee conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete examination reports and failure to obtain relevant medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition and hand condition, but dismissed appeals regarding shoulder, spine, foot (including metatarsalgia), and frostbite residuals to hands and feet.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his right knee, hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination to address functional limitations of the left knee. The TDIU issue is also deferred until the other issues are resolved.

The Veteran's vision disability, diagnosed as conjunctivitis, is caused by her service-connected Crohn’s disease.,The Veteran's gynecological disorder, diagnosed as uterine fibroids, was incurred while in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, foot, and hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lipoma of the right knee has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee disability, claimed as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability.

The claim for service connection for TBI has been reopened based on new and material evidence. The claims for increased evaluations of the right knee and ankle strain are being remanded, as is the claim for an earlier effective date for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The claim for major depressive disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's right knee strain with chondromalacia was granted an increased evaluation of 10 percent effective October 21, 2015.,The Veteran’s PTSD with major depressive disorder was granted a 100 percent rating effective October 21, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions at the time of the decision.,The Board also denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Again, there was no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and a right knee scar. The claim of service connection for a left knee disability, to include as secondary to service-connected right knee disability, is remanded due to new evidence received since the April 2003 rating decision. The restoration of a 60 percent rating for a right knee disability effective April 1, 2014, and the claim for TDIU are granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding that his current condition did not manifest in service or within the one-year presumptive period and is unrelated to any in-service knee injury.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back condition and knee conditions. The primary reasons for remand are due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature of the Veteran's back condition and the current severity of his left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that a higher disability rating for the right knee is not warranted based on limitation of motion or instability. However, a separate 10 percent disability rating is granted for right knee residuals of meniscectomy.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability, including obtaining medical opinions and reviewing treatment records.

The Board has found that additional development is needed before the claims of service connection for residuals of a head injury and left knee disorder can be adjudicated. The Veteran reported in-service injuries, but VA examinations are required to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's testimony and submitted evidence. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities, as well as an increased rating for TBI residuals. The low back disability was remanded, and the TDIU issue is still pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, treatment records review, and consideration of all evidence.