Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and left knee conditions have been reopened, and the claim for a left knee condition has been granted. The claim for a left shoulder condition is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disability is being remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence on the claims of service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment as of March 17, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected mental health and lumbar spine disabilities. From July 11, 2013, to February 20, 2014, the Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 30 percent; from February 21, 2014, forward, it is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a left knee disability (claimed as secondary to a right knee disability) due to lack of evidence linking these disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities were initially rated as noncompensable prior to January 18, 2012. Effective from that date, the Veteran is granted a disability rating of 10 percent for each knee based on painful motion.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's bilateral knee disability. The issues of increased ratings for hemorrhoids and peripheral neuropathy are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).,Ratings in excess of 10 percent are denied for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's dental condition is being reopened due to new evidence suggesting it may be related to in-service trauma. Service connection for the lower back and bilateral knees conditions remains denied, as does service connection for tinnitus.,Service connection has been reopened for a dental condition based on new evidence. The lower back and knee conditions are not considered incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral upper and lower extremity. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted a 20 percent rating from August 14, 2012 to September 12, 2012 for limitation of extension.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his back, left knee, and right knee disabilities have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for increased ratings based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for her service-connected right knee disability is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating greater than 10 percent prior to September 1, 2012, and did not meet the criteria for an extraschedular evaluation effective September 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence of current disability severity. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine the extent of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation was remanded due to the lack of loss of use in either lower extremity. The effective date for increased rating Crohn's disease remains January 15, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis, to include as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, is granted. However, the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disk disease cervical spine, to include as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, is remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion.,The Board finds that further development is required prior to adjudicating the Veteran’s service connection claim for degenerative disk disease cervical spine. The matter is REMANDED.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a low back disorder due to insufficient evidence.,Other claims related to migraine headaches and osteochondroma of the right humerus are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's knee and foot disabilities were inadequate, as they did not consider the Veteran’s in-service treatment records. The Board also found that no VA examination was provided for the Veteran's hand disabilities. Therefore, the case is being remanded to obtain new VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for upper back or neck, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a current disability. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these issues.