Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's initial rating for painful scar, right forearm is granted at a 10 percent from November 13, 2013. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease (DJD), right knee remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for factual determinations, failure to comply with prior remand orders, and failure to fulfill VA's duty to assist.

The Veteran's application for clothing allowances for his service-connected ankle and knee disabilities from 2014 to 2015 was denied due to lack of timely filing. The Board granted a clothing allowance for the back brace used in 2015, finding that the Veteran provided sufficient evidence of damage caused by the braces.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's neck, left knee, and hypertension disabilities are related to his military service. The right knee disability case is also being remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for a right knee disability because no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities have also been reopened.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete documentation regarding her clothing allowance claims for the year 2015. The VAMC and VHA need to obtain relevant records, including those from the Debt Management Center.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including those related to undiagnosed illnesses from Southwest Asia service, have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of qualifying chronic disability due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's service connection claims for back disorder, bilateral hand disorder, neck disorder, and right knee disorder have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for the bilateral hand disorder and neck disorder, but denied for the back disorder and right knee disorder.,Service connection was granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of an increased rating for service-connected lumbar strain is dismissed.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability is denied as there is no evidence of chronic disease noted in service or within a presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology has not been established since service. The Veteran's statements regarding onset are not credible.,Service connection on secondary basis for right and left knee conditions is denied because the preponderance of the evidence does not support finding that the current right and/or left knee disabilities are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease L5-S1 with non-radiating lower back pain and right knee patellar chondromalacia have worsened, necessitating a new examination to assess their current severity. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded due to the interrelated nature with the other issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected patellofemoral syndrome status post patella fracture of both left and right knees due to lack of recent examination and updated treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back and right knee disabilities due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding chronicity of these conditions during service. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for an addendum opinion from a physician.

The Veteran's left knee strain with limited extension is rated at 10 percent, but no more. The effective date for this rating remains pending as the RO has not determined a specific effective date.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination of the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities due to inconsistencies in the VA examination and potential functional impairment. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the current knee disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of vision impairment, bilateral hand condition, right knee disability, left knee disability, lower back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and heart disability have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU, but his claim is referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for pes planus was withdrawn. The claims for PTSD, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, hypertension, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction were all denied due to lack of credible evidence supporting the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hip, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.