Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for increased schedular ratings for his left knee conditions were denied. However, the Board found that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and granted TDIU. The extraschedular rating claim for a left knee condition was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and a new VA examination to reassess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disability.

The combined impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities has rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right THA residuals are not deemed to be the result of carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill on the part of VA. Therefore, he is not entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her service-connected right knee disability prior to August 29, 2005 and from October 1, 2006 to May 6, 2014.

The Board affirms the denial of service connection for a right below the knee amputation, but grants it based on secondary service connection due to a fall caused by his service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a left knee condition and assigned him a 10 percent rating for right foot fracture residuals. The issues of service connection for left foot, right knee, and left hip conditions are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee total replacement disability warranted a 30 percent rating beginning on June 1, 2016. The appeal for higher ratings was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and right knee disability have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 5, 2015. The Board has granted TDIU based on the schedular rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability is dismissed. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection for PTSD have been met, as there is medical evidence linking current symptoms to a specific in-service stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development due to incomplete or insufficient medical opinions regarding her skin condition, knee disabilities, and scars.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional examinations and development of the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, specifically his exposure to noise from military flight line jets. The right knee disability claim requires additional development as a VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his right knee, pes planus, left foot, and left ankle disabilities. The issues include seeking initial ratings for these conditions and service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a left knee disorder and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA psychiatric and orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to determine the current severity of his service-connected right and left knee disabilities and lumbosacral spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to consider all evidence, including a recent VA examination report. The TDIU claim is also deferred until these issues can be addressed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied as he did not serve during a period of war, and the evidence does not support a finding that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with examinations to determine the severity of his left knee and right shoulder disabilities.