Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions and therefore, service connection cannot be established for these conditions.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes mellitus type II, prior to March 1, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU effective January 14, 2019. The case is remanded for further development regarding his prior period of employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition, finding that there is no credible evidence linking his current left knee condition to military service. The case was remanded for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's right wrist disability.

The Veteran's PTSD, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left foot disorder, right foot disorder, and back disorder have all been denied service connection. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to July 1, 2017 has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, status post arthroscopy, was dismissed as the May 2019 VA Form 10182 did not identify the March 2019 rating decision or the Veteran's increased rating claim as the subject of disagreement.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for left ankle ligament strain, right knee patellofemoral syndrome with meniscus tear (previously 5257 right knee condition), and lumbar strain and degenerative joint disease have been dismissed as the appeal is not properly before the Board.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion to determine the etiology of any right knee disability diagnosed since April 2013, including whether it is related to service or his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including spinal stenosis, right ankle disability, right shoulder disability, left total knee arthroplasty, and right knee disability. The issues include determining whether these conditions are related to service or other service-connected disabilities, as well as rating adjustments for some of these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a left knee injury, but denied the claim itself due to lack of evidence linking the current disability to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding treatment records that are pertinent to his claims on appeal, including psychiatric treatment records and private treatment records from various providers.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral knees and bilateral shoulders, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a VA examination to determine if his bilateral knee disorder is related to his active service, specifically his duties as a lineman.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is granted service connection based on continuity of symptoms since service. The gastrointestinal disability to include diverticulosis and GERD is denied as not related to service.

The Veteran is granted a separate disability rating of 10 percent for the symptomatic partial removal of the semilunar cartilage associated with degenerative arthritis of the left knee from September 14, 2007 to October 31, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for headaches was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee condition and cervical spine condition due to unclear etiology of his symptoms, which may be related to his service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation because of surgical treatment requiring convalescence or hospitalization in excess of 21 days following right knee surgery, finding that there was no evidence showing severe post-operative residuals warranting an extension beyond the initial period.