Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations and extraschedular considerations for various service-connected disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee arthritis is related to an injury sustained during service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and new evidence. The Veteran's conditions include hypertension, gout of the feet, anemia, splenomegaly, onychomycosis, psychiatric disability, left shoulder condition, right thumb disability, left knee disability, right foot plantar fasciitis, and a sebaceous cyst.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and migraine headaches are granted service connection. The left knee, right knee, sleep, bilateral hearing loss, missing teeth, and hypertension claims are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's back and knee disabilities are related to his military service. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for a sinus disability diagnosed as chronic sinusitis. The claims for left wrist, right knee, and hemorrhoids disabilities have been denied.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the April 2018 remand directives and requires another remand for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left knee condition.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and rating determinations. The Veteran's knee conditions have been rated at 10 percent since the initial grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his knee disabilities due to a lack of recent medical examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the left foot, and peripheral neuropathy of the right foot claims have been reopened due to new and material evidence. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is granted as it relates to major depressive disorder which was aggravated by service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues are denied.

The Veteran's right knee surgery required only three months of convalescence, from May 1 to July 31, 2014. The Board found that the evidence does not support an extension beyond this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his left, right knee disorders and bilateral hip disorder due to incomplete records. The Veteran is also required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal of a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee degenerative joint disease is remanded due to the failure to schedule him for an examination. The case must be returned for another attempt at obtaining an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate previous VA examinations for the Veteran's lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide new evidence of his disability.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a TDIU rating. The AOJ should request any outstanding medical records and lay statements from the Veteran to support his claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability and a higher initial rating for bilateral pes planus, hallux valgus, hallux rigidus, and calcaneal spurs due to outstanding VA treatment records and additional relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right shoulder and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is requested to provide additional medical records, including those from VA and private providers.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for a higher initial rating for TBI. The Veteran will need to undergo comprehensive VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.