Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional supporting evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran needs VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities, including right and left knee conditions, sleep apnea, blocked carotid arteries, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being remanded for these examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate information regarding the Veteran's flareups of right knee pain, and a request for an addendum opinion from the May 2018 examiner is made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability, thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and headaches as secondary to service-connected right and left knee disabilities due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases of the Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches, right knee disability, and limitation of extension of the right knee for further development. The issues include seeking higher ratings for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his hip, back, knee, prostate, and skin conditions. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and cause of these conditions.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The case was previously remanded for an examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) is secondary to his service-connected left ankle sprain.,The case is being remanded again due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's obesity caused or aggravated his DJD of the bilateral knees. An addendum opinion from a clinician is needed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims of increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a separate rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage of the left knee, are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his left ankle and left knee disabilities was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the left ankle disability, nor did it find sufficient grounds to grant a temporary total disability rating due to convalescence for the left knee disability.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for asthma and right knee disorder, finding that his pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for neck injury residuals with left shoulder and arm radiculopathy, and left knee degenerative joint disease due to inadequate medical opinions regarding functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Board denied reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the evidence submitted since the final June 2009 rating decision was essentially cumulative and did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to incomplete development and lack of VA examinations regarding his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is seeking entitlement to TDIU based on his PTSD, back, and knee disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of left ankle and left knee conditions due to further development being necessary.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to duty-to-assist errors, including inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted due to the extent of flexion limitation. The appeal is denied as the disability picture does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's right knee condition and OSA have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected left knee condition.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's claims for a right knee condition and OSA, which were previously denied.

The Veteran was not found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 1, 2003.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital for his right knee condition on February 21, 2015 are granted as the treatment was rendered in an emergency situation and VA facilities were not feasibly available.