Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's depression is granted as secondary to her service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate for rating purposes and requires a new examination to determine the nature and cause of any left knee and right ankle disabilities. The issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions remain on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hip, bilateral ankle, and right knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected multi-level lumbar degenerative disc disease and joint disease with myofascial pain and scoliosis.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the Board is remanding for further development regarding whether his degenerative arthritis contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability and rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of the Veteran’s conditions.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and osteoarthritis of bilateral knees are granted as service connected.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and right knee disorders, but granted service connection for PTSD. The case is remanded for further examination regarding lower back and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for left knee and right knee disorders, but has remanded these issues due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including allergic rhinitis, hyperhidrosis, bilateral patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral shin splints, degenerative joint disease of both great toes, and a left foot plantar wart.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral flatfoot prior to April 11, 2018 was denied.,The Veteran's claim of a higher rating for his bilateral flatfoot disability from April 11, 2018 onwards is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining updated private medical records from Dr. B.O., scheduling a VA examination for his left knee disability, and providing an addendum opinion regarding his bilateral feet disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, including the meniscal tear. The Veteran's current right knee disability is found to be related to his in-service injury during a physical readiness test (PRT) in October 1997.

The Veteran's current bilateral plantar fasciitis is of service origin, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to November 16, 2017, but granted a 30 percent rating as of that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete or inaccurate medical records and need for further examination. The Veteran's exposure to burning waste pits is also under consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and need for further medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee sprain, which is claimed as secondary to his left ankle strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify his service in the Indiana National Guard/Army Reserves and for a new examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD with residuals of TBI.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral knee disability, low back disability, erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD), and headaches (secondary to PTSD) are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been remanded for further development.