Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for a comprehensive VA examination to address his chronic shin splints and related disabilities of the lower extremities, including ankles, knees, and feet.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to wear and tear of his clothing from bilateral knee braces is granted, subject to the law and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, degenerative joint disease of the bilateral ankles with residuals of avulsion fractures of the ankles, and degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees. The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is also considered to have had its onset in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities due to incomplete examination and lack of consideration of functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of a pre-existing condition in service and insufficient medical evidence to support an aggravation claim. The Board also found no evidence of arthritis within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of his right shoulder and left knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of an addendum opinion. The Veteran's left knee disability is being reviewed again for a proper medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of both knees due to a lack of clear and unmistakable evidence showing that any pre-existing knee condition was aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, prostate disorder, kidney disorder, and foot disability. The effective dates are not specified.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder, right shoulder, lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, and right foot disabilities. Diabetes mellitus is also being remanded.

The Board has denied increased ratings for recurrent right knee subluxation and painful right knee flexion, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5257 or 5260.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical opinions on whether the current knee disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience from September 14, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise and grants TDIU effective September 14, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including shoulder, spine, and knee conditions. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service-connected due to aggravation by his right knee condition.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus disability began during active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition. The remaining issues of service connection for hearing loss, lumbosacral strain, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to need for additional development.

The Veteran's initial 10% disability rating for his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for a more comprehensive examination.

The Veteran's right knee is not manifested by ankylosis, dislocated semilunar cartilage or removal of semilunar cartilage, flexion actually or functionally limited to 30 degrees, extension actually or functionally limited to 10 degrees, or impairment of the tibia and fibula or genu recurvatum. As such, a rating higher than 10 percent for status post arthroscopic chondroplasty with osteoarthritis of the right knee is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee tricompartmental osteoarthritis due to inadequate examination in October 2018. The examiner is asked to address whether these conditions are at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.