Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to adequately attend to his daily living needs without regular aid and attendance, thus granting special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Veteran's death was caused by VA's negligent care following surgery in January 2004, resulting in a pulmonary embolus and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Service connection for the left foot disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, left hip disorder, and asbestos exposure is denied as there is no evidence of service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right total knee replacements are rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating. The Board has granted a TDIU based on his bilateral knee disabilities preventing him from securing or following any substantial gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right knee femoropatellar syndrome with shin splints and degenerative joint disease is being remanded for further examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee disability is pending.

The Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disability was not reopened, but his right knee limitation of extension is now granted. The remaining issues related to the Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, right shoulder surgical repair residuals with tendinitis, DDD of the lumbar spine, and right upper extremity scar are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus of the right and left feet due to aggravation. Service connection is remanded for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right knee, bilateral lower extremity, and bilateral foot disabilities due to new evidence indicating possible current disabilities. The Veteran's pain during service is now considered as a potential disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine as secondary to his left knee disability is granted. His claim for a higher rating for interolateral instability of the left knee, status post medial meniscectomy, remains denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for various lower back-related disabilities as secondary to other conditions, including neck, shoulder, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right little finger disability and left knee disability, but remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability.

The appellant's left lower extremity neuropathy with foot drop is rated at 80 percent, effective March 30, 2016. The appeal for specially adapted housing and TDIU prior to July 3, 2017, was granted.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically the left and right meniscus tears, have been rated at 20 percent each since September 13, 2011. The ratings are based on their direct service connection without any presumption or secondary linkage to a previously service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, low back condition, and left knee condition due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his ability to work with all of his service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, right hip disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and right shoulder disability due to unclear periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence on whether the veteran's current left knee disability is related to her in-service injury and physical training. The veteran should be given a VA examination to determine the cause of her disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee condition and right knee strain due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's reports of continuous knee symptomatology from discharge until present are considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee, ankle, and shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran is required to provide updated treatment records and undergo a VA examination to address his claims.