Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral pes planus, headaches, and a right knee condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation due to loss of use of lower extremities is remanded. The case will be returned after the Veteran undergoes a VA examination to assess his service-connected disabilities and determine if they amount to such loss.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left knee disability has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of motion to a level warranting a compensable rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261.,Service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as moot due to their grant in April 2019.

The Board has denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left and right knee strains, but has remanded his claim for an increased rating of his low back disability due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence not previously considered by the RO.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disorders and bilateral foot disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records, a need for a new examination, and further clarification on the nature of her pes planus.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for extraschedular consideration due to his service-connected disabilities, employment history, education and vocational attainment.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied, while his left knee and lower back conditions are to be evaluated through a VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60% since March 1, 2015. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability was initially rated at 10%, then increased to 20% from May 15, 2009. The appeal continues as the Veteran seeks an initial rating in excess of 20%.,The Veteran's left shoulder DJD and rotator cuff tear are currently rated at 20%. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending.,The Veteran's service-connected scars have not been assigned any compensable ratings. The appeal continues as the Veteran seeks an initial compensable rating.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for left shoulder DJD and rotator cuff tear is denied, with the earliest possible effective date being November 26, 2016.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for left shoulder scar is denied, with the earliest possible effective date being March 29, 2012.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted since March 1, 2015. The appeal continues as the Veteran seeks an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, sleep apnea, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee were denied. The claim for a separate compensable rating for limitation of flexion associated with the right knee was granted at 10 percent from November 2, 2011 until May 14, 2012. A compensable rating for residual scar, right knee, was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional medical opinions and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are at issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for the Veteran's right knee disability and service connection for sleep apnea. The appeal regarding the aortic aneurysm is being addressed in another decision.

The Veteran's multiple service-connected physical disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, including lumbar disc degeneration with facet arthritis, but denied service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic back pain, left lower extremity chronic knee pain, and tinea pedis.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that his current condition is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders due to incomplete records. The AOJ is required to obtain all relevant medical records, including those from Vista Imaging.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee ankylosis, and a new VA examination is required to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, prior to February 1, 2015, was rated at 10 percent and from February 1, 2015, at 30 percent. The Veteran's lumbar strain was rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's chronic bronchitis with asthma was remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.