Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), headaches, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, right knee disability, and degenerative joint disease of the right hip. The reasons for remand include needing updated VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service or other etiologies.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability as there was no current diagnosis of such condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and issues being inextricably intertwined with other pending claims.

The Board denied service connection for back, head injury, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and left knee conditions due to missing VA treatment records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused wear and tear on his clothing, specifically the manual wheelchair, shoe orthotics, and topical cream for eczema. The Board has granted annual clothing allowances for 2013 due to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his education and work history did not support a conclusion that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence does not show symptoms productive of flexion limited to 30 degrees or less; or ankylosis. The appeal is remanded due to a claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's right knee strain and patellar tendonitis, as well as his right shoulder tendinopathy, have been granted service connection. The initial disability rating for the cervical strain remains at 10 percent, while a higher rating is denied for the left knee strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and evaluations to address inconsistencies in his diagnoses and treatment records, particularly regarding lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's right knee disability has worsened, and a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a separate disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5257 for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examinations in prior decisions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the periods of concern, as he was able to maintain several entry-level jobs.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his request for a Board hearing in June 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a right knee disability because new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for Multiple Sclerosis, bilateral knee disability, dizziness, fatigue syndrome, and bilateral leg disability secondary to MS due to in-service service in the Persian Gulf. Additional records are needed from the Veteran's Reserve service and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were remanded in February 2017. The Board has not yet readjudicated these claims and provided a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right and left knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for another VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee arthoplasty and hip osteoarthritis have been granted increased ratings, with the right knee receiving a 60% rating since June 1, 2011. The left hip osteoarthritis has also received an increase to a 50% rating since July 1, 2016.