Knee Board decisions

The Board is remanding the case for AOJ review of additional evidence received after the December 2017 Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine, knee, shoulder, and GERD disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is service connected, and he has been granted a compensable rating for hammer toes of the second left digit from November 15, 2010 to November 18, 2012, and from January 1, 2013. The Veteran's right hip disorder and left hip disorder are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's request for a temporary total rating due to treatment of his right shoulder disability is denied as he does not have a service-connected condition.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied based on lack of evidence linking the current condition to service. The earliest reported symptoms are from after separation from active duty.,The Veteran's claims for left knee, right knee, and erectile dysfunction disabilities are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence to determine their relationship to service.,Service connection for hypertension is also remanded as there is no sufficient medical evidence to determine its onset or relation to service.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the lumbar spine, patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees, and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also receiving a 20% rating for his radiculopathy.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims of rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthrosis of the right hip, rating in excess of 40 percent for osteoarthrosis of the left knee, service connection for a left hip disability, to include on a secondary basis, and SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or for being housebound.

The Veteran's application to reopen her claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, which was previously denied in February 2005 and is now considered secondary to her service-connected left knee injury, has been denied. The Board also remanded the case for further development regarding an increased rating for her service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for right knee scars is denied as the earliest possible effective date provided by law is May 23, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's applications to reopen several service connection claims, including for right foot disability, left foot disability, face discoloration, psychiatric disorder, hypertension, left knee disability, right knee disability, and kidney disease. The evidence submitted did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

Service connection granted for neurological disorders of the RUE, LUE, RLE, and LLE due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.,Service connection denied for low-mid back disorder, neck disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and sleep disorder.

The Board has added new medical evidence to the record and has decided that some of the Veteran's claims for service connection need to be reconsidered. The issues have been remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination findings and a need for further development, including a new VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability status post total knee arthroplasty.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between the current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including higher staged initial ratings for cervical spine and thoracic discogenic disease, as well as claims of service connection for bilateral hip, ankle, knee, upper extremity, and lower extremity disabilities. The remand also includes a request for additional opinions on whether these conditions are secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for instability of the left and right knees prior to February 12, 2016 and from that date have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to additional symptoms reported by the Veteran regarding his bilateral knee disability, requiring a new VA examination for assessment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and right knee disability are all in need of further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee conditions have been denied. The evaluation for left knee degenerative joint disease remains at 10 percent, while the evaluation for limitation of extension and malunion of the tibia is denied. A 10 percent evaluation has been granted for patellar subluxation prior to October 20, 2014, but a higher rating is not warranted after that date.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various knee, ankle, and shoulder conditions as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.