Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected residuals of a right knee fracture, limitation of motion of the right knee, and sleep apnea. The Veteran is also required to provide VA with his private physician’s medical records related to these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the rating for left knee total replacement, resulting in the case being dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to address certain issues in the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, bladder diverticulum status post TURP, cervical spine condition, and colitis have been denied. The claim for bilateral knee disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on his left knee disability and PTSD/TBI combined rating is denied. The left knee disability remains rated at 10 percent, with a separate 10 percent rating granted for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage in the left knee. A temporary total disability rating was granted from June 18, 2018 to July 30, 2018 due to surgery. The combined PTSD/TBI rating remains at 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD, right ankle tendinitis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and degenerative disease of the lumbar spine are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions, particularly those related to bilateral ankles, knees, hips, lumbar spine, cervical spine, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, right hip condition, left hip condition, and sleep apnea. The claims are also remanded for increased evaluations.

The Board has decided that service connection for a right knee disorder and left knee disorder (claimed as secondary to the right knee disorder) should be remanded due to incomplete records and need for new medical opinions.

The Veteran's hypertension, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss have been granted service connection. The left knee disability appeal is dismissed due to lack of a timely notice of disagreement. Service connection for other conditions remains pending.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine if the Veteran's back condition, left knee condition, or right knee condition are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 1, 2015 for adding his spouse as a dependent due to insufficient information provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disorders, tinnitus, migraine headaches, and cervical spine disability have been granted.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU, which satisfies his appeal for a higher evaluation of PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, low back disability, left knee disability, and heart disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed for these claims due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and left hip disabilities are found to have aggravated his right hip and left knee arthritis, warranting a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's knee disabilities due to incomplete medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right wrist and bilateral knee conditions. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for her claimed left wrist, shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee, or right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.