Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for PTSD, allergic rhinitis, and herpes zoster was withdrawn. Service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome is granted.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that the Veteran did not have a right or left knee disorder during his active duty service. The Board also found no evidence of continuous symptoms since service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that his death was not caused or proximately due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee arthritis with crepitus was denied. A separate compensable rating for right knee semilunar cartilage condition prior to January 26, 2018 was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a current examination of the Veteran's left knee, as there is evidence of worsening since the last examination. The Veteran will be provided with an opportunity to obtain any relevant medical records and undergo a VA examination.

The claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities have been reopened. The tinnitus claim is also remanded. The Board has not made a determination on the merits of these claims.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee arthritis and instability, right shoulder disability, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and residuals of a gunshot wound to the chest with COPD and pneumothorax. The remand includes requests for new examinations due to inadequate previous evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his right knee disorder, finding that there is no medical evidence linking the current disability to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC related to his left foot drop and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability (secondary to service-connected right foot disability), hepatitis C in remission, sleep apnea, and neurocognitive disorder. However, the Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to his testimony of worsening symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is related to service or his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and elbow conditions are not service-connected, as the evidence does not support a finding that they were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for new examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is remanded due to the need for an updated examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders, but denied both on the merits as there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been remanded due to the need for further development.,An earlier effective date is denied for all granted conditions.

The Veteran's left knee condition is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.,The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at 100 percent due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, vision disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, and right hip disability are not related to service. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for additional VA opinions. The claims are related to amputation of the left leg below the knee, coronary artery disease with peripheral vascular disease, histoplasmosis in both eyes, and scarring of the lungs.

The Veteran's appeals for right knee and right ankle disabilities have been dismissed. The appeal for sleep apnea is remanded.