Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal of claims for low back, right hip, left hip, left knee, and right knee disorders has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, resulting in the dismissal of all issues related to service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service. The evidence did not show any specific injury in service or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder due to military sexual trauma is granted a 70% rating from November 1, 2015, to prior to January 4, 2017. A higher rating is denied for the period of January 4, 2017, to prior to March 21, 2018, and from June 1, 2018, onwards.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and shoulder conditions, as well as a gynecological disability. The appeals are being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 13, 2006, for service connection of low back strain was denied. The Board also remanded several issues related to his knee and ankle disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and foot disabilities, finding new and material evidence. The claim for left arm disabilities remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include service connection for bilateral hip, left knee, and back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, and additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability requires a new VA examination due to inadequate previous examinations. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for unspecified depressive disorder and left knee osteoarthritis have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in a December 2018 written correspondence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability, diagnosed as quadriceps tendinopathy, is service-connected. The claim was reopened due to new evidence provided since the last denial in April 1996.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, bilateral knee, and right shoulder disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The VA is required to provide a new examination that addresses whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder. The Veteran is still entitled to service connection for his left knee DJD, but further examination and evidence are needed for the right knee issue.

The Veteran's requests for increased ratings and reductions in disability ratings were denied. The reduction of the left knee limitation of extension rating from 50% to 10% was not proper, as it did not reflect an improvement maintained under ordinary conditions of life. The right knee limitations of extension rating was also reduced improperly. A total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted starting August 6, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus disability is rated at 30 percent prior to January 23, 2015 and 30 percent thereafter. The Board has found that a higher rating for the period before January 23, 2015 is not warranted due to lack of evidence showing pronounced bilateral flatfoot. For the period after January 23, 2015, the Veteran's disability picture does not more nearly approximate a higher rating based on functional loss or flare-ups with limitation of motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not render him totally unemployable.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically his claim of aggravation of a pre-existing condition. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any relevant VA treatment records and afford the Veteran the opportunity to submit or identify any private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and right knee disabilities are being remanded for further examination to address functional loss due to flare-ups.