Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 27, 2016 for the grant of service connection for right knee instability has been denied. The Board also remanded his claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee instability and TDIU due to the need for further development.

The Board has denied the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, but has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left and right knee disabilities as well as left and right foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and back conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of back, left knee, and right knee disabilities have been granted. The claim for service connection of a left ankle disability has also been granted. However, the Board has found that further development is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to new and material evidence received. The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee disabilities are reopened, but his hypertension and PTSD with major depressive disorder remain denied.

Service connection for right and left knee DJD is granted. Service connection for right and left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations due to incomplete development, including a cancelled PTSD examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and increased ratings for his right knee degenerative joint disease were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a secondary service connection claim, as the Veteran’s psychiatric condition was more likely related to financial stressors rather than his service-connected right knee disability.

The claims for service connection of a back condition and left knee condition have been reopened. The Board has remanded the cases to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service injury during helicopter duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities. However, the Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee arthritis and meniscal derangement, as well as his right knee status post total knee replacement, are rated at 10%, 20%, and 30% respectively. A TDIU is granted from June 1, 2009 to March 10, 2015 and prospectively from April 1, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, neck disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability (secondary to a right knee disability).

The Board has granted an effective date of August 19, 1997 for the service connection of traumatic arthritis in the left knee. The decision is based on the earliest communication that may be reasonably construed as seeking compensation for left knee arthritis.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to address issues of service connection, rating, and functional limitations related to the Veteran's right knee, left ankle, and left foot disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for prostate cancer was dismissed. The Board remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes, kidney dysfunction, and below-the-knee left leg amputation due to in-service exposure to PCBs.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, to include as secondary to service-connected hiatal hernia with GERD, asthma, and hypertension. The issue of service connection for a left knee condition, to include as secondary to service-connected status post right knee partial meniscectomy with degenerative arthritic changes, is remanded.

The appeal for service connection for ischemic heart disease, bilateral foot disability restoration, and TDIU is dismissed. The appeals for increased ratings for various spinal disabilities, sensory deficits of the right shoulder and forearm, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and left leg sensory deficit are withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease secondary to bilateral knee disability. The Veteran is seeking a determination on whether his lumbar strain with DDD is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, right knee disability, and tinnitus have been granted.,However, the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension remains remanded.