Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, left hip, and neck conditions due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.,Service connection is also not granted for a low back condition, left knee condition, or right shoulder condition as there is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee and/or lumbar spine disabilities. The case will be reviewed again with a full discussion of the medical principles involved.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on hearing loss, tinnitus, and reopening the left knee claim before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is etiologically related to active service, including as due to an in-service injury. Service connection for medial and lateral meniscal tears with laxity of anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, cervical spine disability, left wrist sprain, left ankle disability, musculoskeletal strain (claimed as costochondritis Tietze's syndrome), otitis media, right ear, right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus due to new evidence of ongoing symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition is reopened, and the Board remands the case to determine if his back condition is aggravated by his service-connected knee disability. The case also remains in remand status for consideration of an increased rating for chondromalacia of the left knee.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of new evidence, including VA treatment records and recent VA examinations. The issues of an increased rating for right knee disability and a TDIU prior to December 26, 2018 are still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in loss of use of his feet, and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of one or both feet.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder as these conditions did not manifest during the Veteran's period of active duty or within one year thereafter and are not otherwise related to such service.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are due to his in-service parachute jumps.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of pseudofolliculitis barbae, and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish service connection for bilateral knee disability due to lack of clear and unmistakable pre-service existence and no aggravation during service. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, due to insufficient evidence. The remaining service connection claims for a right knee disability and cardiomyopathy are denied.

The Veteran's request to reopen her finally denied claim for service connection for a back condition was denied. Her claims for service connection for skin condition and bilateral knee condition were granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting left knee condition was aggravated by his active duty service, and therefore grants service connection for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, prior to September 28, 2015, was not productive of actual or functional flexion limited to 30 degrees. The Veteran is currently assigned a 10 percent evaluation for his service-connected right knee partial arthroplasty with degenerative joint disease with patella sprains.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral knee disorder, finding that it clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has restored the 10 percent ratings for thoracolumbar strain, right knee disability, and left knee disability effective September 1, 2014.,The TBI rating was reduced from 10 percent to noncompensable effective October 28, 2014.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were reduced from 20% to 10%, effective October 1, 2015. The Board found that the reduction was not proper and restored the original ratings. Additionally, the TDIU claim for the period prior to July 13, 2015 is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the current evaluations of 10 percent are appropriate based on the evidence showing moderate limitation of motion.