Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has ordered a new examination to determine the cause of the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee and back disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for headaches and bilateral knee disorder, as well as the increased evaluation for depression with PTSD and TDIU. The Veteran's assertions regarding his conditions will be considered in these matters.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, arthritis of the left knee, and left CTS have been granted. The decision also denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of a higher rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to stale VA examination reports, lack of information on flare-ups and instability, and need for updated examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disability may be related to his military service and remands the case for further development.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for an increased rating of his right leg length discrepancy. The claim to reopen a right knee disability was granted, but the Board finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's hip and back conditions are related to his service-connected LLD.

The Board has granted service connection for various knee, shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disorders. The Veteran's depressive disorder is also found to be related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the lack of an adequate substantive appeal for each issue.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, erectile dysfunction, and chronic headaches.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left sciatica, hypertension, and congestive heart failure were withdrawn from further appellate consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional evidence, including private medical records and a VA examination to assess his knee disabilities and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims are being reconsidered due to new information confirming the Veteran served in Kuwait during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since March 1, 1998. The Board denied a higher rating in July 2017 and the RO assigned an effective date of March 1, 1998 for this rating.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition. The claims for corneal and nuclear sclerotic changes (blurred vision), arthritis of the right knee, arthritis of the left elbow, dermatitis (skin rash), erectile dysfunction, and sleep disorder are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate or speculative opinions in his VA examination reports. The Veteran is seeking service connection for neck, back, right shoulder, right knee, stomach, and hypertension disorders.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection claims due to his withdrawal of those appeals.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and a separate rating for symptomatic removal of the semilunar cartilage has been granted. The appeal for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Board has denied a higher rating for migraine headaches prior to November 18, 2016 and since then.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to evaluate the severity of his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee anterior cruciate ligament and medial meniscus are currently rated at 20 percent, with a separate rating of 10 percent for limited flexion. The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent rating for limited flexion.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the need for updated VA examinations and notification regarding TDIU.