Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases due to unclear dates and duration of additional active service after June 1991, and requests further development to obtain any associated service treatment records.

The Veteran's low back, right knee, and acquired psychiatric disorders are found to be aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The claim for these conditions is therefore granted.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability is granted.,The Veteran's requests to reopen the claims of service connection for residuals of a bilateral super rectus fader operation, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety are granted.,Service connection for bipolar disorder is granted.,An earlier effective date of December 5, 2005, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for a left ankle sprain is granted.,An earlier effective date of December 5, 2005, but not earlier, for the award of service connection for a right ankle sprain is granted.,An earlier effective date of February 22, 2012, but not earlier, for the award of an increased rating to 10 percent for status post left wrist trauma with arthroscopy with triangular fibrocartilage complex is granted.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the award of an increased rating of 10 percent for the right wrist sprain is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for hypertension is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for status post left foot trauma is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for status post left knee ACL repair and medial meniscectomy with residual degenerative arthritis is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease is denied.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for chronic cervical strain is denied.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder strain and right shoulder DJD, finding no evidence of a chronic condition during or after service. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for the Veteran's right knee disorder, including a meniscal tear that pre-existed service and degenerative joint disease (Osteoarthritis) which developed post-service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 100% rating, effective November 19, 2015. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee post arthropathy has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's myofascial back disability and right knee disorder. The examiner is required to provide an estimate of functional loss due to flare-ups or repeated use over a period of time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases due to incomplete records, conflicting medical opinions, and lack of proper range of motion testing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis related to her claimed back, left shoulder, left knee, or right hip conditions. The claim for service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability and has also granted service connection for this condition. Additionally, the Board has granted service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee condition and left knee condition as directly incurred in service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is denied as she does not have a current disability.,The Veteran’s breast cancer with lumpectomy, including as due to exposure to hazardous materials, and her psychiatric disorder including PTSD (due to military sexual trauma and/or as secondary to breast cancer) claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's GERD claim is remanded in conjunction with the breast cancer claim.,The Veteran’s left knee, right knee, left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, left upper extremity condition (secondary to cervical spine condition), and right upper extremity condition (secondary to cervical spine condition) claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's left lower extremity and right lower extremity conditions are also remanded in conjunction with the breast cancer claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information from a previous VA examination regarding the Veteran's left knee disorders, including bipartite of the left patella, left knee arthritis, and left knee meniscal tear. The examiner did not provide details on flare-ups or functional loss during those periods.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left knee condition, right knee condition, GERD, spot on the lung, tinnitus, vision condition, hiatal hernia, hypothyroidism, gout or high blood pressure and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.,The Board also found no evidence that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of April 13, 2011 for a separate evaluation of 10 percent for right knee instability is denied as it was not factually ascertainable prior to July 1, 2011 that the Veteran met the criteria for this rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right knee instability and DJD, as they require additional medical examination to assess the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the knees, and back disability are granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's right knee condition and generalized joint disorder are not service-connected.,There is no evidence of a chronic disability during active duty service, or that the current conditions are related to any incident of service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left knee disorder and remanded it for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left and right foot disabilities, other than pes planus, have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.