Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disorder and left knee disorder due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's left knee surgical scar is rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of painful or unstable scars.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including schizoaffective disorder, right and left knee DJD, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for his right knee and service connection for his right hip disability as secondary to his right knee are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, left knee disability, and folliculitis were granted effective January 17, 2017.,Claims for higher ratings for tinnitus, left knee disability, and folliculitis remain denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for new evaluations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disability, chronic tinea pedis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus should be remanded due to insufficient evidence. The AOJ is instructed to obtain relevant medical records and assist the Veteran in identifying his military occupational specialty and any noise exposure during service.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show limitation of flexion or extension to a level warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's hip and knee disabilities have been rated based on their specific limitations, with no additional ratings granted.,No higher rating is warranted for the Veteran's hip or knee conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a 10 percent rating for GERD is granted. The appeals for service connection for back, left foot and right foot disabilities are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his requests for these claims. The appeals for an increased rating for left knee degenerative changes with scar, right knee scar, and TDIU prior to September 15, 2016 are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder disability and right knee disability, but granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Veteran's GERD was found to have begun during his active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his conditions, including coronary artery disease, right knee replacement, right knee burn scar with right knee surgical scars, left knee and femur disability, left ankle disability, low back disability, left hip disability, GERD, and IBS.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee arthritis were previously denied, but new evidence has reopened these claims. Service connection is granted for CAD.,Service connection for left and right knee arthritis was denied as they are not secondary to the service-connected left tibia fracture. However, service connection for CAD is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Thailand.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection for a left knee disability, bilateral foot disability (plantar fasciitis), and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease in both knees has been granted a 20 percent rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability, arthritis of the lumbar spine, left hip disability, right hip disability, bilateral flatfoot, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to incomplete records and need for further development.,Specifically, the appellant's service treatment records are missing or incomplete, and he needs to provide additional information about his in-service stressors.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for kidney disorder, PTSD, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and right lower leg scar.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, coronary artery disease, bilateral nephropathy (claimed as kidney disease), and neuropathies in the upper and lower extremities have all been denied.,Service connection was not established for any of these conditions due to a lack of medical evidence linking them to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of a medical opinion on the etiology of his conditions and exposure basis. The claims are also remanded for an examination to determine the current severity of his left ankle status post fracture.