Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities, and for increased ratings for PTSD, traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine; residuals right knee injury; right inguinal hernia; fracture of the left index finger; and tinea versicolor.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings in various disabilities, including migraines, left knee disability, and left ankle disability, is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The TDIU claim remains on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical evidence on file. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for residuals of a left knee injury was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability rating beyond 10 percent.,Eligibility for financial assistance for an automobile or adaptive equipment was also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating, extraschedular consideration, and TDIU prior to specific dates have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request to withdraw his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a kidney disorder is dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disability, left hip and ankle disabilities, cervical spine disability, and left upper extremity disability (left arm) due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, respiratory disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as these conditions are not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for arthritis with bone spurs and a cardiac condition, finding no evidence of such conditions during the Appellant's periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee and shoulder disorders, CAD, and OSA due to new evidence received since final denial of these claims. The Veteran's symptoms have been noted in service records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address flare-ups in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II and right-knee disorder with degenerative joint disease and arthralgia have been denied as the medical evidence does not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU were dismissed because he did not opt into the AMA framework.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology is not established. The Veteran’s current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis of the right knee is not at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing has been manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level I in each ear. A compensable evaluation for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.,Service connection for left shoulder strain and degenerative joint disease are remanded due to inadequate rationale regarding whether the disabilities had their onset in service or are otherwise related to service.,Service connection for right shoulder strain and degenerative joint disease are remanded due to inadequate rationale regarding whether the disabilities had their onset in service or are otherwise related to service. The examiner's opinion is based on an inaccurate factual premise, as a September 1991 medical record diagnosed the Veteran with a chronic subscapular musculoskeletal strain.,Service connection for upper back strain and degenerative joint disease are remanded due to inadequate rationale regarding whether the disabilities had their onset in service or are otherwise related to service. The examiner's opinion is based on an inaccurate factual premise, as a September 1991 medical record diagnosed the Veteran with a chronic subscapular musculoskeletal strain.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected as it is not related to her active duty service.,Service connection for left knee limitation of motion (chondromalacia) was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, knee, and lumbar spine disabilities. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his active military service.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as a skin disability and PTSD. The case is remanded to obtain additional evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for left knee strain, right knee strain, rhabdomyolysis of the right lower extremity as secondary to lumbosacral, lumbosacral strain, and rhabdomyolysis of the left lower extremity as secondary to lumbosacral due to a failure in developing the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examination and opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected back disability and his bilateral hip, knee, and neck disabilities. The claims for increased rating of lumbosacral strain are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, pes planus, and disabilities of the knees due to a lack of medical examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for restricted lung disease (COPD and bronchial asthma) has been withdrawn. The issues of service connection for traumatic brain injury, left knee degenerative joint disease, tinnitus, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and migraine headaches have all been granted.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for left knee degenerative joint disease has been granted. The issues of service connection for traumatic brain injury, tinnitus, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and migraine headaches have all been remanded.