Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate findings in the July 2018 VA examination report. The Veteran must be afforded an additional VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions regarding his knee disabilities, psychiatric disorder, and hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left knee, right knee, and both feet disabilities as the evidence did not show a link to service or a service-connected condition.,Service connection was also denied for secondary left and right knee disabilities to the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's left knee condition is granted, but the issue of service connection for a left ankle condition remains pending and requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee, right hip, left hip, and thoracolumbar spine disorders due to their potential secondary relationship with service-connected bilateral foot disorders. Additional VA examinations are needed to determine if these additional conditions are caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left hip, low back, left knee, and left ankle disorders are not related to his active service. The VA examiners found no evidence of chronic conditions in service or post-service treatment records indicating a link between these current disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, and a bilateral knee disability. The remaining issues are REMANDED for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability require additional development due to incomplete medical records and lack of consideration of the Veteran's reports of in-service aggravation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's right knee disorder to his military service.

The Veteran's spouse was added as his dependent to his VA disability compensation award effective October 1, 2004.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for duodenal ulcer and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The Veteran's current conditions were not found to be related to her military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for a higher rating due to worsening symptoms since the last VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury and to address his complaints of light sensitivity, difficulty concentrating, headaches, and anxiety.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted with a rating of 40 percent. Service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities are granted, but the case is remanded for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of sciatica and radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee degenerative joint disease is related to service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The appeal to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for strep throat is denied. The claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee condition (secondary to low back), and ulcerative colitis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee, lumbar spine, and right hip disabilities as well as GERD. The effective date for the 10% rating for GERD remains to be determined.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors. The issues of headaches, left foot disability, and tinnitus are being remanded as there were insufficient opinions provided regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's request to reopen the issues of service connection for left and right knee injuries has been granted. The Board has decided that additional development is needed, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining any missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, which includes pain, marked pronation, tenderness, and severe spasms that were not improved by orthotics, is rated at 50% since July 29, 2011.