Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee strain is etiologically related to her active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 12, 2010 because the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is granted. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, left hip disability, right tibial periostitis, and left tibial periostitis are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee arthritis and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease due to incomplete examinations. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine the current severity of his conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for left foot arthritis and remanded the issues of service connection for depression, increased rating for left knee chondromalacia, and increased evaluation for RSD of the LLE. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence or undergo examinations as directed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU. The Board has remanded the case to determine if referral to the Director of Compensation Service is warranted due to exceptional circumstances.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to potential missing VA treatment records that may be relevant to the issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his right knee disorder, lumbar spine spondylosis, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome due to inadequate VA examinations. The claims are now pending again with the AOJ.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability and denied service connection for his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities. The case is remanded to assign an initial rating for the right knee disability and adjudicate a claim for TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability due to new and material evidence. However, the issue is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claim of a higher rating for his left knee disability was denied because he failed to report for the necessary VA examination, and thus the claim lacks legal merit.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU due to incomplete VA examinations, including lack of joint testing for pain on both active and passive motion, and failure to provide an estimate of functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for sinus bradycardia due to the Veteran's representative withdrawing the appeal prior to a decision. The appeals for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding his sleep apnea and scars. The TDIU claim is also raised.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection of above-the-knee amputation of the right leg as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and chondromalacia patella are proximately due to his service-connected right knee replacement, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to insufficient evidence or inadequate examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability and right ear hearing loss due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran will need to provide his complete service personnel and treatment records, including those from his period in the Florida Army National Guard.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to May 5, 2010, meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for his service-connected right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the current severity of these disabilities.