Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance is denied. The evidence does not indicate that he was in need of such assistance prior to May 18, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral elbow disability, COPD, and emphysema. The effective dates for granting service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities were not granted earlier than May 3, 2016. The rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of his claims. The left knee DJD case will be reconsidered after obtaining new evidence and clarifying the nature of his pre-operative diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back strain, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to insufficient evidence. Additional efforts are required to obtain her complete STRs and SPRs, verify her duty status during relevant periods, and secure updated VA and private treatment records.

The Veteran's DJD of the right knee is found to be related to his active service, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were denied, with the effective date being October 11, 2013.

The Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not related to his in-service injuries, and the Board denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion on the etiology of the left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claim due to inadequate examination and duty-to-assist issues, requiring a new VA examination.

The Board has found that earlier effective dates are not warranted for the Veteran's increased ratings of 40 percent for a back disability and 20 percent for right knee instability, as his entitlement did not arise prior to December 16, 2013. The claims have been remanded due to insufficient examination findings.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and requires additional examinations. The Veteran's left knee disability is not service connected, his acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety and depression) may be related to service, and obstructive sleep apnea may also have a service origin.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. Service connection is denied for right and left knee disabilities, as well as COPD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left hip and left knee arthralgia are being remanded due to the need for additional information regarding functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as headaches secondary to tinnitus. Service connection was granted for pes planus of the left and right feet.,Service connection for a left knee disability is not warranted due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following some form of substantially gainful employment, as he is currently employed in information technology.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee medial meniscal tears due to a possible worsening of symptoms, requiring further examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for left knee strain and left shin stress fracture, entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral calcaneal heel spurs, right knee strain, cervical spine strain, lumbar degenerative disc disease, migraines, hammertoes of the right foot, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with strain status post fusion, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the right hip, degenerative joint disease of the left hip, left knee arthritis, leg length discrepancy, chronic right ankle sprain with avulsion fracture and Morton’s neuroma, scar, anterior neck, nonlinear surgical scar, right shoulder, surgical scars, right shoulder, tension headaches, right inguinal neuropathy, status post inguinal hernia repair, attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with mood disorder, and bruxism with temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of pneumonia, hypertension, left knee surgical scars, migraine headaches, and PTSD have been granted. The Veteran is also remanded for further evaluation on his left knee disability.