Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims of service connection for an ear disorder and a right knee disability have been granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only, as new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an ear disorder and a right knee disability have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and providing VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not otherwise related to his military service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee disabilities due to insufficient examination reports and opinions addressing functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the service connection claim for a right knee disability as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to the decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, and therefore he does not qualify for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury. The claim for reopening was granted, but the claim for service connection itself was denied.

The Veteran's right knee condition is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling from January 2014, following a period during which a 100 percent evaluation was assigned status post arthroscopy. The Board denied an increased rating for the right knee condition and also denied extension of a temporary total rating due to convalescence past December 31, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability, but granted a separate evaluation of 20 percent for joint pain and effusion from September 19, 2017.

The Veteran's right knee patella tendonitis and lumbosacral strain have worsened since the last VA examination in August 2012. The Board finds that a more current examination is necessary to assess the severity of these disabilities.

Service connection for right forearm, left forearm, right wrist, and left wrist disorders is denied.,Service connection for right knee and left knee disorders is denied.

The Veteran's right and left knee conditions have been rated as 10 percent disabling for the entire period on appeal due to arthritis with noncompensable limitation of motion. The preponderance of evidence does not support an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for a 10% rating for left heel scar is granted from May 13, 2013. The claims for service connection of bilateral knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and further investigation is needed to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability was incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital on May 10, 2013 was denied because the claim was not filed within 90 days after discharge from the hospital.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome were denied. The case was remanded for further action on the issue of service connection for a bilateral foot disability.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings for left knee degenerative joint disease and PTSD has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

PTSD is rated at 70 percent from January 27, 2015 to April 19, 2018. Other service-connected disabilities are not currently on appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, also claimed as migraines and PTSD. The Veteran was remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his left knee disability and back disability.,The Veteran's unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness, also claimed as undiagnosed illness due to Gulf War, is being remanded for further examination and opinion.