Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, including as secondary to her service-connected thoracolumbar strain. The case is being returned to the AOJ for additional development and an updated medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability, ocular disability, chronic cervical strain, left ankle disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, glaucoma, and bilateral hearing loss, produced total occupational impairment. The Board granted TDIU for accrued benefit purposes.

The Veteran's original claims for service connection for left knee instability and meniscal tear were denied in April 2015 due to his failure to attend a VA examination. The effective date of the awards was set at May 6, 2016, as this is when the Veteran filed a petition to reopen his claim. As he did not appeal the initial denial, an earlier effective date cannot be granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right wrist and an increased rating for his left knee disability, finding that there was no current diagnosis of arthritis in either condition. The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the severity of his back, hip, and knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including depressive disorder NOS, right-hand disability, lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, left-hand disability, bilateral hip disability, and left-knee disability. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to procedural confusion and the need for further evidentiary development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to deficiencies in the prior examinations and the need for a new examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of right hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to new evidence received since the February 2000 rating decision. The claims are now pending for further adjudication.

The Board denied service connection for chronic pain syndrome as it is considered a symptom of the Veteran's already service-connected lumbar spine strain with disc disease, right knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis and meniscus tear.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and bronchitis as there is no evidence of a chronic disability within one year following separation from active service.,There are no diagnoses or treatment records indicating the Veteran had any chronic conditions during his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and will consider this evidence in their re-adjudication.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is being remanded for further evaluation and to ensure all necessary records are obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep disorder, Crohn's disease, GERD, thyroid cancer, right knee disability, and left knee disability have been denied. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted (right and left knee disabilities) while others remain denied.,New evidence was submitted but did not provide a basis to reopen the claims for service connection for sleep disorder, Crohn's disease, GERD, and thyroid cancer.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand disorder, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral knee disorder due to new and material evidence. However, further development is needed as VA examinations are required to address the merits of these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran must be provided with additional VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee is rated at 10 percent, and his residuals of a right ankle fracture with recurrent strains are rated at 20 percent since May 18, 2017. The Board has remanded several issues for further development.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded.