Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's right knee brace caused damage and wear to his clothing, leading the Board to grant a clothing allowance for 2017.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for lumbar thoracic spine scoliosis is granted. The Board finds that additional clarification is necessary regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's joint hypermobility disorder, to include Ehlers-Danos syndrome.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right knee disability, and additional VA examination is needed to determine if it is related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and foot disabilities. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome with iliotibial band syndrome and denied service connection for an eye disability and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's current left knee condition is found to be related to his in-service injury, while the evidence does not support a finding of a current eye or ear disability.

The Veteran's clothing allowance for the calendar year 2017 for a back brace is granted due to wear and tear on his clothes caused by using a back brace.

The Board has granted a separate compensable rating of 10 percent for right knee instability, effective from July 30, 2013. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected right knee strain prior to April 1, 2013 remains denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for left knee, right knee, low back, and right shoulder disabilities due to new evidence submitted. However, these claims are still remanded as the Veteran failed to attend VA examinations scheduled in June 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. The examiner did not provide a direct service connection opinion and did not address the lay statements describing signs and symptoms during service.

The Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia is not the sole cause of his current left and right shoulder, as well as left and right knee disabilities. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions as separate entities from fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's disability ratings for left and right knee disabilities were reduced from 30% to 20%, but the appeals for restoration of these ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded several of the Veteran's claims, including those for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, right and left shoulder DJD, and bilateral knee DJD. The ALS claim is also remanded as it was reopened on new evidence.

The Board has remanded nine issues related to the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and low back disorders. The issues include rating increases for these conditions as well as a TDIU determination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between current symptoms and service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected left knee scar is granted, but no higher than 10 percent. The Board found that the evidence was at least evenly balanced as to whether she experiences one painful residual scar from her service-connected left knee ACL repair.,The Veteran’s claim of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), other than migraines and psychiatric disability, is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board also found that the Veteran's neuroma involving the left saphenous nerve requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disability. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to assess his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) at any time during the appeals period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, and foot conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board dismissed all claims for increased ratings as the Veteran withdrew her appeals of these issues prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities due to incomplete development. The issues include left shoulder, left knee, back, and fifth metatarsal fractures.