Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee injury and a displaced fractured nose due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for right hand, right knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities due to a lack of current diagnoses related to these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted a 40 percent rating from April 28, 2008, to April 17, 2014. Since April 18, 2014, the Veteran is rated at 50 percent for his left knee disability. The effective date of service connection for lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities was set to July 2, 2014.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder due to the lack of evidence of a current disability other than gout affecting both ankles. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), gout, bilateral plantar fasciitis with DJD and heel spurs, and bilateral shin splints are all remanded for further development.

Your appeal to reopen your claim for service connection of a left knee disorder has been dismissed because you withdrew the appeal.

The Veteran's right knee disability, which includes patellofemoral syndrome and patellar tendonitis, has been rated at a minimum of 10 percent due to painful motion. The rating is based on the Veteran's reports of pain during flare-ups and repetitive use.

The Veteran's service-connected eye and knee disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment for the entire period on appeal, leading to a TDIU grant.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a corneal abrasion is denied as there are no current residuals related to the in-service injury.,The Veteran's initial rating for dry eye syndrome remains at 20 percent, which is the highest schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 6025.,The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right knee disabilities remain at 10 percent each. The AOJ has rated them under Diagnostic Code 5010 (traumatic arthritis), but they are evaluated based on limitation of motion under the appropriate diagnostic codes.,Special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is granted since June 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for a bilateral hip disability, back disability, and bilateral knee disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The claims for service connection for left ankle injury, gout, and residuals of right knee injury have been dismissed. The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for residuals of a right ankle injury has been denied. The claims for service connection for hypertension and bilateral hip disability secondary to lumbosacral and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's applications for clothing allowances for back and knee braces were denied because they were not timely filed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically unspecified depressive disorder, has been granted. The claim for service connection for right knee disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right calf and right knee disabilities, as well as her low back disability. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for her low back disability.

The Board found no current left knee or right ankle disabilities and denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's ADHD claim is granted as new and material evidence has been submitted.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder claim is granted as new and material evidence has been submitted.,The Veteran's left knee disorder claim is denied as no current diagnosis of a left knee disorder was found.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, and thus remands the cases for further development.

The Board has restored service connection for right trapezius muscle strain and granted a separate rating. The appeal of the left knee disability is REMANDED.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to July 21, 2015 rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The case is being remanded for further examination to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, including any related conditions like degenerative arthritis and leg length discrepancy. The examiner must also assess whether these conditions are related to service or residuals of a torn right knee meniscus.