Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and knee disorders, as well as her claim for a higher rating for her left foot disability due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is required to be provided with new VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, posttraumatic arthritis of the left knee, and posttraumatic arthritis of the right knee are being remanded for further evaluation due to complaints of worsening symptoms since his last VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left leg disability, as well as his claims for increased ratings for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine and Type II diabetes mellitus with hypertension, need to be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a cervical disorder and a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder tendonitis have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding service connection for bilateral knee disorders and a compensable rating for hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection claims for psoriasis, arthritis inflammation (psoriatic arthritis), left hip disability, and right knee disability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury or disease.,Secondary service connection was also denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's service-connected groin disabilities and his hip and knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for right hip disorder, sleep apnea, prostate cancer (residuals), migraine headaches, and various foot and knee disabilities. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that they did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The heart disability was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his thoracolumbar spine condition or left knee DJD prior to October 27, 2015 and from February 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives, and a new VA medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's right knee condition is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted service connection and rated at 10% from June 30, 2016 to July 16, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and whether it is related to his military service. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The claims for service connection on accrued benefits purposes are being remanded due to the need for additional information and evidence.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for left knee strain have been denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating and temporary total rating for left knee arthroplasty are being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar degenerative spondylosis and right and left knee patellar-femoral degenerative changes, cause severe impairment such that he is unable to ambulate without an assistive device such as a wheelchair. The Board finds eligibility for specially adapted housing due to loss of use of both lower extremities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease and internal derangement, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury.

The Board denied service connection for right knee DJD, left knee DJD, right leg PVD, and left leg PVD as the Veteran's disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since September 1, 2008. The VA Board denied a higher rating as the condition does not meet or approach the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and meniscal tear with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, is rated at 30 percent since February 24, 2015. The rating was granted for the period from that date to March 19, 2019.