Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran is granted a clothing allowance for the 2017 calendar year due to his right knee brace, which tends to wear and tear his clothing.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are remanded due to the passage of time and allegations of worsening conditions. Further, new VA examinations are needed as the current evidence is insufficient.

The Board has ordered additional examinations to clarify the nature and cause of the Veteran's right knee disability, left second toe disabilities, spider bite residuals in his hands and feet, and other related conditions. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee arthritis disability with torn medial meniscus, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by his service-connected chronic inflammatory demyelination polyradiculopathy left lower extremity. The issue of service connection for duodenitis is remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and groin pain. However, the claim for both conditions remains denied as there is no credible evidence linking these disabilities to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and the need for a new one with consideration of flare-ups and instability.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition and left hip condition, to include as secondary to a left knee condition due to missed VA examinations. The claims are now pending again with new scheduling of an orthopedic examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated VA examinations and a review of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hip disabilities, lower extremity radiculopathy, low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, ankle disability, and bilateral hearing loss/tinnitus. The Veteran is not entitled to TDIU at this time as more current evidence is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to new evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities have worsened. The Veteran must be provided with VA examinations to assess the severity of his lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied clothing allowances for bilateral knee braces and orthopedic shoes because the Veteran's right knee disability is not service-connected, and there was no evidence that the left knee brace or orthopedic shoes caused wear and tear to his clothing.

The Veteran's right knee disability, which is rated at 10 percent for painful motion, does not warrant a higher rating as his flexion limitation does not reach the level required for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as his education, training, and work history allow for employment despite his conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied as his symptoms do not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent.,The effective date for service connection for PTSD is denied, and the earliest possible date is November 8, 2016.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee secondary to right knee disability is remanded due to incomplete rationale in the previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence received within a year of the previous rating decision. The issues include back, left knee, right knee, and shortening of the left leg disorders all claimed as secondary to his service-connected fracture of the distal left tibia.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, specifically Baker’s cyst of the left knee, as it is shown to have begun during active service.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for a left knee condition, finding no new and material evidence to support it.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disorder, increased rating for bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome, and TDIU prior to July 6, 2017 due to incomplete examination reports and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities. The claim of entitlement to a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.