Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as migraine headaches due to lack of a VA examination. The Veteran contends that his current knee disabilities are related to his service, while his migraine headaches may be related to pre-existing conditions or service.

The Board has remanded cases involving the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a disability of his right arm. The remand is due to insufficient discussion regarding medical opinions related to these claims.

The Veteran's right knee disability and sleep apnea are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right and left knee braces, used for service-connected knee replacement disabilities, caused his clothing to wear out or tear. The Board granted annual clothing allowances for the 2018 calendar year.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, left knee disability, and diabetes mellitus, Type II due to a lack of service treatment records. A VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected left and right knee lateral patellar friction syndromes due to inconsistencies in a previous VA examination report.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since his discharge from active duty in April 2005, and the Board has granted an effective date earlier than May 9, 2008 for the grant of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for breathing problems, neck disability, right knee disability, right ankle disability, ulcerative colitis, pre-cancer of the colon (claimed as colon cancer), headaches, epigastric hernia, and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of flexion of the left knee with traumatic arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and testing.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left hip, right knee, and low back disabilities secondary to a service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is denied as there is no evidence linking it to active service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right knee condition, migraine headaches, and pain disorder with depression or persistent somatic symptom disorder are currently rated at the maximum available levels.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if any of the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to his service-connected right great-toe disability.

Service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, PTSD, and sleep apnea has been granted.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development of records and an addendum opinion regarding whether VA was negligent in allowing the Veteran to perform physical labor and not providing him with a knee brace.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits, including education to obtain a J.D., is remanded due to incomplete records and need for further evaluation. The AOJ must ensure all relevant records are obtained and associated with the claims file, request private treatment records, allow the Veteran to submit evidence of her employment attempts and needs for a J.D., and arrange for a vocational rehabilitation evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder condition is granted, as new evidence has been submitted that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine condition is denied, as no new and material evidence was received since the final denial of the claim.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee DJD, GERD, and hypertension is being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that Gilbert's syndrome, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, gout of the bilateral ankles, feet, and toes, arthritis of the lumbar spine with strain, plantar fasciitis with mild degenerative joint disease (left foot), plantar fasciitis with mild degenerative joint disease (right foot), allergic rhinitis, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease with diverticulitis, and sebaceous cyst were not service connected or warranted increased ratings.