Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left knee disability, plantar fasciitis, bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or anxiety disorder.,The VA examiner found no evidence of a right knee disability during service and concluded that any current right knee disability is not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for all four conditions: left and right knee disabilities, as well as left and right carpal tunnel syndrome. The evidence supports the Veteran's claims that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee condition, right knee condition, and PTSD remain remanded due to incomplete records and unverified stressors.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings have been denied as her arthritis of the thumbs, index fingers, long fingers, ring fingers, and little fingers do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes. The Veteran's arthritis of the right knee and feet were also found to not warrant an increase in rating.,The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for gout and arthritis of the knees, feet and low back, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The nonservice-connected pension claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the other claims.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is rated at 40 percent, and his lumbar spine DDD and stenosis are granted. The Veteran also received a TDIU determination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chondromalacia patella of the right knee and ulcerative colitis were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to her in-service motor vehicle accident, and for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and lumbar spine DJD. The claims are being returned to VA for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee arthritis, right knee instability, and residuals of right wrist fracture with osteochondrosis due to a lack of updated VA treatment records and the need for new examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s current sleep apnea began during active service and grants this claim. Other issues of service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's right knee injury and CVA residuals have been granted increased ratings, with the right knee receiving a separate 10 percent rating for instability and the CVA residuals receiving a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected right shoulder, left shoulder, and left knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation. Additionally, a new claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression) has also been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations due to inadequate examinations, lack of private medical records, and other procedural issues.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and denied increased ratings for left shoulder strain, lumbar spine disability, lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, right knee instability, and right knee limitation of extension. The Veteran's current disabilities are currently rated based on their severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The issues include bilateral knee disabilities, frequent urination disorder, skin cancer, left ankle disability, heart disability, diabetes mellitus, anxiety disability, and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that it is related to an in-service injury and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic bronchitis/pneumonia, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and sinus condition are denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and hip conditions due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for retropatellar pain syndrome with chondromalacia of the right knee was granted effective August 25, 2016. The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his active service, including multiple jumps from planes and playing basketball. The Veteran will be provided a VA examination to address these issues.