Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for left knee chondromalacia prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but he contends for a higher rating due to pain and functional impairment. The Board finds that remand is necessary to address the severity of his flare-ups and obtain any outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for her right knee disability and dermatophytosis onychomycosis of the right hand fourth digit fingernail are being remanded due to new evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and secure substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and lumbar spine strain have been evaluated, but no increased ratings are warranted.,Specifically, the Veteran's left and right knees do not meet criteria for a compensable disability rating due to instability or recurrent subluxation. The Veteran’s lumbar spine strain has been granted with a specific rating, but no higher.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine condition as secondary to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability. The VA examiner found insufficient evidence to support the Veteran’s contentions that his cervical spine condition is caused by or etiologically related to his service-connected thoraco-lumbar spine.,The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right and left knee conditions, finding no evidence to support a higher rating based on limitation of flexion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions including left and right knee disabilities, sleep apnea, TBI, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's current hearing loss in the right ear is not considered a compensable disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and a bilateral knee disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active service.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding no causal link between the current condition and active duty service. The Veteran's claim was based on his belief that he injured his knee during sea duty in service, but medical evidence did not support this claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, bilateral knee and back conditions, radiculopathies, and erectile dysfunction, render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 11, 2016, for a 10 percent rating for his left knee disability is denied because there was no factually ascertainable increase in disability within the year prior to the date of the claim.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected back, left knee, and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the lack of a VA examination report from August 2012. The RO must obtain this report and associate it with the claims file.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disorder. The bilateral hip and right knee disorders are remanded due to potential proximate cause from his previously service-connected left knee and low back conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee and right shoulder disabilities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that service connection is not granted for a back disorder as there is no evidence to support its onset during or related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his bilateral knee, shoulder, and neck disabilities due to lack of sufficient medical evidence. The Veteran is also required to provide private treatment records related to these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability resulted in pain, weakness, and swelling. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for left knee instability as of March 27, 2018, but no earlier. A separate 10 percent rating is also granted for muscle atrophy of the left knee, Muscle Group XIV, as of March 27, 2018, but no earlier.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of right tibia and fibula fractures, including osteoarthritis and a knee replacement, has been reopened. The Board found that the preexisting injuries were aggravated by service, granting the claim.