Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following gainful employment, as he can perform sedentary level work despite his knee pain and psychiatric symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and needs a new VA examination for the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for cervical spine, right knee, and lumbar strain disabilities were denied. The cervical spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to October 28, 2016 and at 20 percent thereafter. The right knee disability received a 10 percent rating from September 3, 2014 to October 28, 2016 and the lumbar strain disability was rated at 10 percent as of October 28, 2016.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, low back, and right knee disabilities due to new evidence showing possible in-service onset of symptoms.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss disability as it meets the definition of a present disability under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD warranted a TDIU rating, and his other service-connected disabilities combined to more than 60 percent. The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the December 2010 rating decision that failed to award SMC at the (s) rate due to CUE.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to missing records, need for new examinations, and the need for VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran's claims regarding his knee disabilities and major depressive disorder due to inadequate examinations and incomplete evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to his active military service and granted service connection for it.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder impingement and TMJ dysfunction. The remaining issues are related to elbow, hand, hip, knee disabilities that need further examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral-knee disorder due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae and sleep apnea are remanded as there is insufficient current medical evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted. The claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees, as well as for bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review, including consideration of an earlier effective date for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need for further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for right knee strain with degenerative joint disease was denied. The Veteran received a separate 10% rating for right knee instability effective from January 15, 2013. A 20% rating for left knee patellar subluxation was granted from August 17, 2009 to January 15, 2013. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for status post extensor pollicis tendon repair with radial and median sensory and motor deficit was denied.

The Board has denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees and remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and PTSD). The case is being returned to the RO for issuance of a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability has been reopened and granted. The Board also found that the Veteran's back disability is related to his left knee disability, which was established as direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims. The right knee, left knee, low back, and bilateral foot disorders were all found not to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining updated VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's neck, left knee, bilateral shoulder, right knee, and psychiatric disabilities. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient examination findings. The case is now pending further development.