Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her amputated left leg and bilateral foot disability, result in a need for the aid and attendance of another person. She is also entitled to specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant due to her severe lower extremity disabilities.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability and right knee disability were evaluated, but the current ratings do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to service or his service-connected left knee disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining more recent private medical records and an addendum VA examination. The Veteran should be provided a supplemental statement of the case if the benefit is still denied.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities, as the previous examination is inadequate. The increased rating issues remain pending.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional information from SSA regarding his disability status and benefits.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for his bilateral shin splints and knee/ankle pain have been denied. The VA examinations did not find moderate knee or ankle disability associated with the shin splints.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine and tension headaches as residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and a compensable initial rating for a left knee disability based on instability effective from April 7, 2009. The case is to be readjudicated after all development has been completed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee is being remanded due to inadequate examination and missing records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and psychiatric disorder. The claim for left knee arthritis and instability is pending.

The Veteran's right knee disorder has been evaluated as status-post right knee meniscectomy with degenerative arthritis, resulting in a 10 percent disability rating. The appeal is denied as the current symptoms do not warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining current VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, aortic aneurism, PTSD, and other disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for personnel records, VA treatment records, and TRICARE healthcare insurance records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a supplemental opinion from an examiner regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability was aggravated by his service-connected thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease or lower extremity sciatica.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in the medical evidence and the Veteran's missed VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including PTSD, bilateral knee disabilities) have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 14, 2015. After that date, his combined disability rating was sufficient for TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not service-connected, as there was no evidence of a pre-existing injury or chronic condition during service. The most recent VA examination did not find clear and unmistakable evidence of a preexisting condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including issuance of a Statement of the Case and consideration of additional evidence. The lumbar spine claim will be reviewed by a VA examiner to determine if it was caused or aggravated by service-connected knee disabilities.