Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee and right wrist disabilities due to insufficient reasoning in the previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded both claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee strain and degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine. The claims will be further evaluated after additional development.

The reduction in the Veteran’s compression fracture of the first lumbar vertebra rating from 20 percent to 10 percent was proper and the appeal is denied.,The rating reduction for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome from 10 percent to noncompensable effective April 1, 2015, was not proper and is restored, effective from that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine strain is reopened, and the issue of whether his current degenerative arthritis with strain of lumbar spine is secondary to his right knee patellofemoral arthritis is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examination reports and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for left knee degenerative joint disease and dental disorder for treatment purposes are granted. The claims for service connection for acute sinus infections, tuberculosis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are denied. The issue of TDIU is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for unequal leg length as secondary to his service-connected left hip replacement and right knee replacement.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and back disabilities as the evidence did not show they were incurred during active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee strain and degenerative joint disease of the right knee have been denied as his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot condition, neck sprain, thoracic sprain, and bilateral knee condition. The claims for these conditions are being remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective November 7, 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not show he was unable to work prior to this date due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal of his depressive disorder claim was dismissed due to withdrawal. The left knee injury claim has been reopened, but the issue remains remanded for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg disorder has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal on the record at the August 2017 Board hearing. The issue of compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 for postoperative meniscectomy and arthritis of right knee is remanded due to additional development being necessary.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left hand arthritis, and left knee arthritis as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service. The Veteran's contentions were not supported by medical evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, including gout, finding no probative evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection and whether new and material evidence was obtained to reopen claims for various conditions. The Veteran's character of discharge is also being remanded.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's left knee condition was caused by his service-connected TBI.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence from previous examinations.