Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of December 20, 2012. An effective date of December 20, 2012 is granted for the award of total disability rating due to service-connected disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that she does not have a current diagnosis of such a condition and that any pain she experiences is unrelated to her military service.

The Board has denied an increased rating for hypertension and remanded the issues of increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities and entitlement to TDIU. The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 20% due to diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more, but his most recent blood pressure readings do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, left knee, and headaches are all related to his service-connected right ankle disability.,However, the VA examiners found that these conditions were not proximately due or a result of his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a left knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, bilateral foot disability, shoulder disability, hip disability, knee disability, sciatic radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric/mental disabilities. The July 1997 decision remains final regarding the low back disability claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee and headache disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations that comply with recent court decisions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability was denied. The current rating of 10 percent is not sufficient to cover the Veteran's condition as it worsened after May 28, 2014.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for low back and bilateral hip disorders, finding new and material evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims on a secondary basis.,The Veteran is now eligible for TDIU due to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee, hip, left ankle, and rib disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right foot disability is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The rating for his right foot disability is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that new examinations are necessary to evaluate the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder strain, thoracolumbar spine strain, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome due to potential changes in their severity since the last examination. The Veteran's migraine headaches have also been remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for left and right knee pain has been granted. However, the claims are still pending as they have been remanded due to insufficient evidence to make a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for partial loss of the maxilla for compensation purposes, but denied service connection for bilateral foot disability and left knee arthritis. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of VA examination and outstanding service treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disorder is secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Veteran's meniscus complications of the right knee are rated at a separate 20% evaluation, and his osteoarthritis of the right knee is rated at 10%. The limitation of extension of the right knee is rated at 30% since August 19, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for bilateral hand condition, right and left knee patello femoral syndrome, as well as his TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and remanded the issues of bilateral hip and knee disabilities, as well as TDIU. The decision on TDIU is pending due to its interdependence with other matters.