Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial, compensable disability rating for status-post left knee patellar fracture and associated surgical scar due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence of his current severity.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for a new examination to reconcile opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and their relationship to his service-connected back disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disability and skin disability due to the need for VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's request to reopen his diabetes mellitus, type II claim was granted. Service connection for left wrist condition and upper respiratory infection were denied. Service connection for left shoulder strain and right knee condition (degenerative joint disease and Osgood Schlatter's disease) were also denied.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded due to incomplete records and the need to obtain SSA disability benefits information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and increased rating for right shoulder disability. The evidence did not establish aggravation of pre-existing left knee disability during service, nor was there any post-service treatment until September 2006. The VA examiner opined that the current left knee strain is related to a preexisting condition and not aggravated in service.

The Board denied service connection for joint pain and muscle aches, including hands, knees, hips, and back. The Veteran's hand conditions were not related to an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection was also denied for headaches and associated hand tremors.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and depression, left lower extremity radiculopathy, depression, a cervical spine disability, and right and left shoulder disabilities. The Veteran's left knee disability is remanded due to conflicting evidence from VA examinations. His GERD is also remanded as new symptoms have been reported.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient development in the November 2016 VA examination. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that any current right or left knee disability had its onset in active service or is otherwise causally related to the Veteran's military duties.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection of several knee, wrist, and foot disorders. The issues have been remanded to obtain additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of recent medical evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee replacement.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis may have had its onset in service, but an additional examination and opinion are needed to determine this definitively.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition, right knee condition, and low back condition have been granted. The claim for an umbilical hernia is denied.,A remand has been ordered to obtain VA treatment records and SSA records, as well as to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination regarding his low back condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a compensable disability rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of clear evidence to rebut the presumption of regularity that applies to VA's date-stamping of incoming mail, and thus, the earliest possible effective date is June 1, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left knee osteoarthritis, acne, and left knee instability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his conditions.

The Veteran is granted two annual VA clothing allowances for the year 2015 due to the use of triamcinolone acetonide cream and Eucerin / hydrophilic cream, which caused irreparable damage to his pants and shirts.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 1, 2008 for the grant of a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his inability to work due to these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of acquired psychiatric disability and remanded it for further development. The right knee disability rating reduction from 20% to 10% is also remanded.