Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral knee replacements, ischemic heart disease, and bilateral hearing loss, make it impossible for him to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current left knee disorder is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for right fifth metacarpal fracture with arthritis, and denied entitlement to higher initial ratings for degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to January 28, 2015. The evidence does not reflect some factor that takes his case 'outside the norm' of any other veteran rated at the same level.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disorder, back disorder, and headaches (secondary to PTSD) due to incomplete records and inadequate examination.

The Veteran's appeal on hearing loss, PTSD, and knee issues was dismissed due to his death. No service connection decisions were made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, including bilateral femoral syndrome and patellofemoral syndrome, are related to service. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions began during or were aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of recent VA examination and treatment records, as well as the need for retrospective medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions.

The Board has decided that an additional examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, as the last VA examination was in April 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to an inadequate August 2015 medical examination. The case will be returned for a new opinion that addresses all claimed in-service events, including lifting boxes and MVA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cholesteatoma, right knee disability, left hip disability, left ankle disability, and low back disability all claimed as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence of a current disability, despite the Veteran's lay statements and VA examination findings. The case is being returned for further development including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids and a psychiatric disorder. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions due to a lack of VA examination, and requests that updated treatment records be obtained.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee, effective August 26, 2011. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his post-operative internal derangement of the left knee was denied as there is no evidence of moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his functional impairments are not severe enough to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete medical records. The main reasons for remanding are for new examinations, especially concerning the lumbar spine and allergic rhinitis.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to assess the current severity of the Veteran's knee disorders and to determine appropriate ratings. The claims are being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar myositis, back condition; left knee degenerative changes associated with right knee meniscal strain and anxiety have been granted. The claims of service connection for parent-child relational problem (resolved as depression) are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for hemorrhoids and GERD have been dismissed. The appeal for tinnitus has been partially granted with a 10% rating prior to February 27, 2018, but denied thereafter. Appeals for wrist disabilities, knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, and cervical spine disability are remanded.