Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's neurological residuals of a right cranial nerve injury had its onset in service and is granted. The left knee, right knee, back, chronic sciatic nerve pain condition, cataracts, chronic sinusitis, hypertension (high blood pressure), and psychiatric condition (PTSD) are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA and non-VA medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and addressing the Veteran's request for a temporary 100 percent rating due to his left knee replacement surgery.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to February 1, 2015, for the start of payment of disability compensation based on his service-connected disabilities. The effective date of the grants of service connection was January 1, 2015, but actual payment began on February 1, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability and left Achilles tendonitis, as well as his claim for TDIU. The reasons are that the VA examinations conducted during the appeal period were inadequate to address the functional limitation during flare-ups of the disabilities and the presence of instability or subluxation.

The Veteran's left knee condition is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her left knee strain, including testing for pain on motion and flare-ups.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability and allergies are not related to service, thus denying these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, bilateral knee condition, and bilateral plantar fasciitis due to potential etiological links to in-service noise exposure and running-related injuries.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran required aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically diabetes mellitus. The appellant's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance as an accrued benefit is being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities result in loss of use of both lower extremities, requiring him to use a walker or wheelchair for mobility. The Board has found eligibility for specially adapted housing but has remanded the issue of special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent for the period prior to June 15, 2009, due to limited extension. The rating is granted.

The Board has determined that the VA examination did not comply with the February 2018 remand directives and thus a new medical opinion is needed to address whether the Veteran's right knee disability was caused by running over cobblestones in Korea during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, sinus disability, and bilateral knee/leg disability (claimed as buckling of the knees and legs) due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions had their onset in service or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and lumbar spine degeneration with myospasm, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and left knee disorder. The case is remanded for additional development regarding the left knee disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to lack of a causal relationship or nexus between his current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee disability was denied as there is no evidence of onset in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, while significant, do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to their severity.

The Veteran's right knee condition was found to have existed prior to service and not aggravated by military service, thus granting service connection for the condition.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement disability is rated at 10 percent from August 1, 2017 to March 20, 2018 and at 30 percent since May 1, 2019. The appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee strain and lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to active service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of injury to nose was granted. The claims for right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral hearing loss were denied.