Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and for an earlier effective date for TDIU due to delays in obtaining a VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted service connection, and the rating for his headaches remains at 30 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for left knee disability and a higher rating, as well as his claim for hypertension. The case is remanded to issue a statement of the case on the hypertension claim.

The Veteran's left knee brace, prescribed for her service-connected left knee disability, caused wear and tear to her clothing. The Board granted a clothing allowance for the year 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee and left elbow conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability and a lumbar spine disability, but denied service connection for left shoulder and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a low back disorder, left knee disorders, and sleep apnea due to missing service treatment records. The Veteran's right and left knee disorders are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the low back disorder claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and lack of information on whether the Veteran was issued braces that caused wear and tear on his clothing in 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, right knee degenerative joint disease, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities require further evaluation due to lack of current diagnoses or updated treatment records. The Veteran is also asked to provide any relevant SSA disability benefits records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable DCs.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for his left knee brace in 2016 is granted because the brace was prescribed for a service-connected disability and caused wear and tear to his clothing.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses at Baylor Medical Center at McKinney on July 12, 2013 was denied because the services were not rendered in a 'medical emergency' and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right hip strain and right knee patellofemoral disorder were denied as the disability picture does not more nearly approximate the degree required for a higher or separate rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service connected. The right knee arthritis, status post TKA, is denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to December 22, 2017 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for his hearing loss.,Service connection for left knee disability and right knee status post medial meniscectomy are remanded due to insufficient medical examination or opinion regarding etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The Veteran's request for a higher rating for his right wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, limitation of flexion of his right elbow (dominant), and degenerative disease of his right elbow is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left knee osteoarthritis is granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left heel fasciitis is denied.

The Veteran withdrew all her claims, including those for service connection and increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected left and right knee disabilities, as well as the claim for a right shoulder disability, are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The VA will obtain missing service treatment records and personnel records, schedule new examinations, and attempt to obtain any outstanding private treatment records.