Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and assessments. The issues include right knee, left knee, low back, right ankle, and obstructive sleep apnea disabilities.

The claims for service connection for left index finger injury, bilateral ankle disorder, and right knee degenerative arthritis were denied as the new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability due to a lack of a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his current condition and service, as well as whether it is related to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability was denied. However, he received a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to outstanding VA and Social Security Administration records.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left and right knee disabilities, hypertension, kidney condition, impotence, brain tumor, umbilical hernia, and TDIU. The AOJ is instructed to complete necessary development such as obtaining retirement disability records from OPM, providing statutory and regulatory notice regarding entitlement to TDIU, and obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of erectile dysfunction and kidney conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder and BLE venous insufficiency are not service-connected. The TDIU claim is also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disorders was granted. The claims for higher evaluations for left and right knee limitations of flexion, subluxation, and frequent episodes of locking were also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for an increased rating for his left ankle disability. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection and increased rating for acid reflux due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The claims for right and left knee disabilities, as well as PTSD, are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for patellofemoral left knee pain, left ankle pain, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence. The appeals are not granted.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to evaluate the Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee disabilities, including updated VA examinations. The derivative claim for TDIU is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease with patellar chondromalacia and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain a more thorough opinion regarding functional limitations of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee condition, right knee condition, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's current meningitis, sleep apnea, and hemorrhoids were not found to be related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for the Veteran's claimed conditions of left knee condition, right knee condition, left ear hearing loss, meningitis, sleep apnea, and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left-knee disorder, including arthritis, pseudogout, and chondrocalcinosis, is being remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding whether his current left knee disorders are related to his active duty service or secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines. The issues of PTSD, sleep apnea, knee disabilities, and shoulder conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee conditions due to his request to participate in the RAMP program.