Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a lumbosacral spine disability and right knee internal derangement, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to April 19, 2018.,The Board has determined that the issue of entitlement to a disability rating greater than 40 percent for a lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded due to insufficient medical nexus opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, air embolism in the pericardium sac, and irregular heartbeat.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and total right knee replacement along with osteoarthritis due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, ear disability, glaucoma, respiratory disorder, hypertension, upper intestinal disorder (GERD), erectile dysfunction, left great toenail paronychia, gout, right foot disability, skin disability, LUE neuropathy with pain, RUE neuropathy with pain, LLE neuropathy with pain, and RLE neuropathy with pain due to outstanding evidence that may be relevant to the claims.

The Board denied service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, a right foot disorder claimed as paralysis of the right foot, and a bilateral knee disorder. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease and left knee disability, but granted a 10 percent rating for corneal transplants. The appeal was remanded for additional development regarding the left knee issue.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, but has remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and hallux valgus and hallux rigidus of the right foot due to conflicting evidence about their onset in or attributable to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of a left knee strain, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to active service and in-service treatment for a left knee strain.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is proximately due or caused by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee nonlinear scars and painful scars are rated at the highest available levels. The internal derangement with medial meniscus injuries and arthritis, instability, and limitation of flexion are all rated appropriately based on their respective diagnostic codes.

The issues of service connection for low back strain, joint pain, bilateral chronic knee problems, and mild renal disease are dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for joint pain in a previous decision.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is denied because there was no pending claim prior to May 20, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for lumbar spondylosis is dismissed. The Board also granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and right knee disability, but granted service connection for low back disability. The claims of entitlement to recognition of A.F. as a helpless child based on permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 are also remanded.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for lung disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, as well as service connection for heart disability.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and increased ratings for various disabilities. The Veteran's muscle group XIV injury and right knee traumatic arthritis are still under consideration.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, head injury, and back conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the claims for nephrolithiasis, left knee disability, right knee disability, residuals of bladder cancer, and residuals of prostate cancer due to incomplete service treatment records. Further development is needed including obtaining complete Coast Guard service records, scheduling a VA examination to determine if current kidney stones are related to in-service incidences, examining the nature and etiology of any diagnosed knee disabilities, and determining the etiology of the appellant's bladder and prostate cancer.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an eye disability has been withdrawn. The issue of a compensable rating for Lyme disease is denied, and the case is remanded to determine if ocular hypertension is related to the service-connected Lyme disease residuals.,Two issues are currently pending: one regarding increased ratings for right knee disabilities (including limitation of flexion and meniscus tear) and another concerning service connection for ocular hypertension. Both issues have been remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his acquired psychiatric disorder and various hip and knee conditions. The Veteran is required to undergo further examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's left knee condition, specifically whether it is related to service-connected diverticulitis or any exposure to herbicides. The examiner must provide a clear opinion on these issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to issues with scheduling VA examinations.