Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee and degenerative arthritis of the spine have been granted. The Veteran is also entitled to a disability rating of 50 percent for the residuals of a gunshot wound of the left buttocks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as left knee disability are remanded due to new evidence indicating different diagnoses or potential etiologies. The TDIU claim is also being remanded in conjunction with these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for her cervical spine, lumbar spine, left hip, and left knee disabilities as well as her respiratory disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted service connection, but his stomach disability (including inguinal hernia and GERD) is denied.

The Veteran's increased ratings for right hip extension, flexion, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Veteran was granted a higher rating for limitation of flexion in the right hip.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to comply with the findings in Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The appeal to reopen the claim of service connection for a neck disability is allowed.,The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is denied.,The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ankle disability is denied.,The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a scar of the left eye is denied.,The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right eye disability, to include insignificant retinal pigment deposits and myopic astigmatism in the right eye (also claimed as benign neoplasm of chorial nevus) is denied.,As new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a left eye disability, other than a scar of the left eye and to include insignificant retinal pigment deposits and myopic astigmatism in the left eye (also claimed as benign neoplasm of chorial nevus), the appeal to this extent is allowed.,The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hemorrhoids is denied.,The application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left elbow disability, also claimed as nerve damage, is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), to include alcohol abuse, anxiety condition, drug abuse, memory loss, mental disorder, and major depression, is denied.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that there was no evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities caused or contributed to his death.

The Veteran's initial ratings for her back, neck, left knee, and right knee disabilities have been denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The appeals were remanded multiple times but are now being reviewed again.

Your appeals for left knee and right knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for further development. A Decision Review Officer hearing will be scheduled at your Regional Office.

The Veteran's shin splints are not currently diagnosed and were not present during service.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is not related to service, as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or connection to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's cervical spine condition was not present during service and has no relation to any in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's bilateral knee condition did not develop during service and is not linked to any in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic in-service injury or disease and that arthritis did not manifest within a presumptive period. The Board gave more weight to medical opinions than to the Veteran's lay statements.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's current right knee condition is not related to his active service or his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and right foot disability.

Effective dates of July 22, 2013, have been granted for the grants of service connection for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.,Service connection has been denied for a skin condition of the upper back/neck, including as secondary to a service connected disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for COPD was denied. The claims for higher evaluations of left and right knee osteoarthritis were also denied, but the case is remanded for further evaluation on some issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The issues of service connection for chronic pain syndrome, post concussive headache syndrome, and sleep apnea are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and his bilateral hearing loss has been granted. Service connection is denied for low back disability, cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, and right knee retropatellar syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of causation or aggravation.

The Board denied increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.