Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for tension headaches, lumbar spine strain, left knee strain, and right thumb strain disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 30 percent for tension headaches or 10 percent for the other conditions.

The Board has remanded four issues related to osteoarthritis and post-traumatic stress arthritis of the Veteran's knees and ankles due to a lack of compliance with VA’s duty to assist in obtaining relevant private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right knee disability, and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left knee disability due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition. The issues of service connection for PFB, an acquired psychiatric condition (to include depression), hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder condition, left wrist condition, back condition, right knee condition, skin condition, sleep disturbance, kidney condition, bladder condition, and psychiatric condition. The claims are not supported by evidence of in-service onset or a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is service-connected as it was incurred during his active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right-hand, left-hand, right-knee, and left-knee disorders due to inadequate opinions from previous examiners.

The Board has remanded the claims for thyroid disorder, left knee instability, and left knee limitation of motion due to incomplete development. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorder, left knee osteoarthritis, right foot degenerative arthrosis, and left foot nonunion. The issues of service connection for ear disorders (including tinnitus and otitis media), a right shoulder disorder, and asthma are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals. The Board has also remanded several issues for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 6, 2005.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorders are granted, with the right knee disorder being secondary to his service-connected low back disability and compensatory gait. The left knee disorder is also found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for hallux rigidus of the right and left feet, as well as service connection for knee disabilities secondary to bilateral foot disability are denied. The Board has remanded the remaining issues related to knee, hip, back, and nerve damage.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for his service-connected disabilities is granted. The extension of a 100% evaluation beyond April 1, 2018 for total left knee arthroplasty is denied.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for retropatellar pain syndrome, both knees; left foot tinea pedis; and low back pain were denied in the May 1997 rating decision. The May 2009 rating decisions granted increased ratings for bilateral tinea pedis and separate evaluations for right and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, while his DJD left knee is denied. The effective date for PTSD service connection is set at December 5, 2011.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for hypertension, skin disorder (including jungle rot), cervical spine disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, left hip disability, and right hip disability are remanded due to inadequate examinations and need further clarification.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the Veteran's incarceration and allegations of stressor events. The claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, bilateral pes planus, and right knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's right knee osteochondritis desiccant excision and thoracic spondylosis were evaluated, but the current ratings do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.