Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination due to an inadequate VA examination prior to the rating decision, which did not assess the impact of flare-ups on the Veteran's ankle and knee disabilities.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection and increased rating as they involve new and relevant evidence, including outstanding Martin Army Community Hospital records.

The Board has determined that the VA examination for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities did not comply with the requirements in Correia v. McDonald and Sharp v. Shulkin, and thus the appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee conditions.

The Veteran's lower back, right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities are all denied as service-connected. The claims for increased ratings for these conditions remain pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and the Board is remanding both issues of right knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The remand includes requesting new VA examinations and obtaining completed Form 21-4142 from the Veteran’s former employer, General Motors.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability and TBI. The decision on TBI is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than December 12, 2011, for the grant of a disability rating and for ratings in excess of 20 percent for his right knee strain and left knee residuals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for neutropenia is being remanded as there may be a worsening of his condition since the last examination in July 2012.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a right hand scar is being remanded as there may be a worsening of his condition since the last examination in July 2012.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities. The claim for left knee condition (cervical strain) has been remanded due to incomplete medical records.,Service connection cannot be granted for the Veteran's neck disability because it was not shown during his active service, and there is insufficient evidence linking it to a currently diagnosed left knee condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and left ankle disorder due to new and material evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development including a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, right wrist disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The Veteran's current tinnitus is found to be related to his military noise exposure during active service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss, left knee disorder, sleep disorder, aortic aneurysm, and hypertension have been granted service connection based on the presumption of chronicity for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and secondary amputation of the right leg below the knee, as new evidence was submitted. The Veteran's diabetes is being reviewed again with additional medical records and an addendum opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral knee disorder, precancerous cells in the throat, GERD, migraine headaches, Bell's palsy, and right leg nerve disorder. The decision states that VA examinations are needed prior to deciding these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions, specifically gout, bilateral knee disabilities, sleep condition, and hypertension. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for Parkinson’s disease and remanded the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for right and left knee disabilities, service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, service connection for right and left upper extremity neurological disabilities, and service connection for a vestibular disorder.

The Veteran's initial increased disability rating of 70 percent for depression prior to March 10, 2017 is granted. The rating remains at 30 percent after that date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of the claim. The left knee disorder claim was denied as there was no evidence to support a finding that it was caused by his service-connected back injury residuals or right knee injury residuals.