Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining issues of service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), increased disability evaluations for traumatic arthritis of the right knee and left knee, and an increased disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has restored a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected right knee replacement, effective February 1, 2013. The decision is based on evidence showing improvement in the disability but not an improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as for a compensable rating for his right knee scar. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, lumbar spine disability, neck disability, right knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified depressive disorder and severe alcohol use disorder) have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.,The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any current disabilities related to his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the current symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on range of motion or pain.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to determine if pseudogout or a form of systemic arthritis initially manifested during service and whether it is related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right knee disability and respiratory disorder due to insufficient medical documentation. The Veteran must be provided with new VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to service, including any incident where he hit his right knee during training. Additionally, the RO should obtain all relevant records from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's claims for sleep disorder, acquired psychiatric disorders, left knee osteoarthritis, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to insufficient evidence of a current disability or service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and ratings related to various disabilities have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, right elbow, bilateral knee, and left foot disorders have been denied.,There is no evidence of a nexus between the current diagnoses and active duty service.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for leukemia and thrombocytopenia have been remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection has not been established for left knee disability, right knee disability, or cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. A 10 percent rating is granted for left wrist tendonitis, and a 10 percent rating is also granted for right wrist tendonitis.,Service connection for bilateral ankle gout and bilateral knee disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions in the VA examination report and the need for a new examination to determine if any left knee pain is attributable solely to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated medical records and an orthopedic examination to assess his left knee disability post-TKR surgery. The schedular requirements for a TDIU rating are met as of February 1, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and residuals of skin cancer due to insufficient evidence in some cases.

The Board has found that the Veteran's period of service from November 16, 2004 to September 1, 2009 is honorable. The Veteran’s claims for service connection are now remanded to determine if these conditions are related to his honorable service.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right shoulder, lumbar spine, right elbow, right knee, skin, and hemorrhoids disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity. The Veteran's sinusitis claim is also being remanded as the VA examiner did not provide a clear opinion regarding whether his condition had its onset in service or was otherwise etiologically related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability and a psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD) due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records show complaints of right knee pain during training, but no current diagnosis or treatment was found at separation. For the psychiatric claim, VA must provide an examination to determine if the claimed in-service stressor occurred and whether it resulted in PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 4, 2015 were denied as the earliest date of claim was March 1979 when he originally filed his service connection claims. The Board found that an earlier effective date is not warranted.