Knee Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability. The claims of entitlement to initial ratings in excess of 70 percent for MDD with alcohol abuse, and in excess of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea with reactive airway disease are remanded. The claims of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for chronic tonsillitis, service connection for a left knee disability, service connection for a right shoulder disability, and service connection for a cardiac disorder are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of right knee surgery and initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee arthritis due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings of his right shoulder and left knee disabilities was denied. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective April 1, 2010. His left knee disability remains at a 30 percent rating since July 12, 2012.

The Veteran's total left knee replacement is granted with a 100% rating effective March 5, 2018. The Board has also remanded the issues of higher ratings for his left knee instability and partial meniscectomy conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his degenerative joint disease of both knees, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for their service-connected left knee disability was denied. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for the portion of the disability manifested by limited extension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee disability and an increased rating for right knee degenerative joint disease, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his current disabilities and his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for vascular dementia, right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral flat foot, left foot disability, right foot disability, and fungus on bilateral toes and feet due to insufficient evidence in some cases.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, left middle finger condition, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and right knee sprain is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional VA examinations due to difficulty in assessing his bilateral hip, knee, and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for a surgical scar of the right ankle is granted. The Board also remanded two issues: service connection for a right knee disorder (secondary to the service-connected residuals of fracture of the right ankle) and an earlier effective date for the 10 percent rating for the service-connected residuals of fracture of the right ankle.

The Board has remanded the issues related to service connection for right knee and left foot disabilities, as well as increased ratings for recurrent lumbar strain, residuals of a left distal tibia fracture with left ankle degenerative joint disease (DJD), and residuals of a right heel fracture. The remand is due to the need for further development in terms of examinations and clarification of the current nature of these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient opinions regarding his ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, and neck conditions. The Board also notes that there is a need for an opinion on whether ischemic heart disease is related to PTSD.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claims of service connection for a left knee disorder and GI disorder (chest pain) has been granted. However, the Board has determined that additional development is needed due to complications with sleep apnea and GI symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for low back strain and left knee, status post-surgery are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to comply with Correia v. McDonald requirements.

The Veteran's claims for right hip, back, and right knee disabilities have been reopened due to new evidence. However, the issues of service connection for these conditions are still pending as they require further examination and review.

The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and opinion, including service connection claims for upper extremity neuropathy, left knee disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and right knee arthritis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee condition and a right knee scar due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's in-service injury is alleged to have caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including low back disability, left knee disability, partial complex seizures, chronic joint pain, epiploic appendagitis, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hypervascular lesions of the liver, infertility, and prediabetes. The Veteran's claims are pending in appellate status.

The Board has denied service connection for a right leg disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability. The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.