Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for a left total knee replacement, but the right knee disability secondary to the left knee disability remains under appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee replacement and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including a low back condition, left leg condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, right and left ankle post-traumatic DJD and strain, left knee post-traumatic DJD and strain, and LSS with post-traumatic DJD, OA, scoliosis and partial sacralization of L5 have been granted. The Veteran is assigned a 10% evaluation for his service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB).

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and degenerative joint disease with chondromalacia, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has remanded the case for further adjudication due to issues related to service connection for a facial nerve condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent for moderate instability, effective August 25, 2017. The claim for a higher rating prior to this date and thereafter remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, shoulder/arm, hand, hip, knee/leg, ankle, and foot disabilities. The issues are related to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for his chronic left knee retropatellar pain syndrome was denied. The highest schedular rating available under the Rating Schedule is 50 percent, which corresponds to limitation of extension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral knee disability are denied. The Veteran's claims for initial ratings greater than 10 percent for his lumbosacral spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding private treatment records from Dr. Younger in Midland, Texas that are needed for a complete evaluation of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for TBI, right knee with arthritic changes, right ankle disability with arthritic changes, fractured right foot 1st and 4th toes with arthritis, back disability to include fractures and arthritis, and neck disability to include fractures and arthritis.,The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of TBI or any other condition related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his TDIU, stating that he was already in receipt of a total disability rating due to his left knee disability and did not have another condition rated at 60% or more.

The Veteran's effective date for DEA benefits is granted as of February 10, 2014.,The Veteran's TDIU claim and increased rating claim for a right knee disability are denied prior to February 10, 2014.,The Veteran’s right knee replacement on an extraschedular basis is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of migraine headaches was denied as there is no evidence that the condition worsened within a year prior to her intent to file. The effective date remains March 23, 2016.,The Veteran's right knee strain claim was remanded due to inadequate examination and lack of information regarding flare-ups.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical records, including a separation examination from his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lung cancer was denied, and his increased rating for left knee condition was granted to a maximum of 60 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence to corroborate the Veteran's statements of an in-service injury during parachuting, and a need for additional documentation such as unit histories and specific findings regarding parachute training.

The Veteran's laminectomy scar has been granted an increased initial disability rating of 10 percent.,Service connection for a right knee disability, secondary to service-connected low back disability, is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings and service connection has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions such as cervical spine disability, fibromyalgia, bilateral knee and hip disabilities, sleep apnea, headaches, and digestive disorders. The reasons for these remands include insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the claimed conditions and the Veteran's military service.,The issues of service connection are being addressed due to a lack of sufficient evidence or reasoning provided by VA examiners in previous examinations.