Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back and left knee disabilities due to inadequate opinions in the VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any relevant private records, including Kaiser-Permanente records, and provide an additional opinion from a clinician.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee sprain, service connection for his left knee condition, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to inadequate evidence or examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since September 23, 2013.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of October 3, 2001 for a 10 percent disability rating for service-connected right knee tendinitis and patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection and increased ratings, except for the right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome which remains on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, including its onset and relationship to service-connected bilateral ankle disability. Additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, bilateral ankle disorders, IBS, left hip replacement, right hip disorder (including degenerative arthritis), and knee disorders. The claims were not reopened.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, left knee condition, and hypertension. The appellant's back disorder is attributed to his congenital spinal anomaly that existed prior to service and was not aggravated by military service.,There is no evidence of a current left knee disability or chronic condition during service. The appellant reported pain but no specific injury. A VA examiner concluded there were no objective findings to support a diagnosis of a left knee condition.

The Veteran is granted a clothing allowance for the year 2014 due to wearing knee braces for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, which cause abnormal wear and tear on his pants.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a depressive disorder and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. As his combined rating is at least 60%, he meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot and knee disorders, as well as initial rating increases for her shin splint disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right knee chondromalacia has been granted.,Service connection for left knee chondromalacia has not been established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient examinations and need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as they are not clear on whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his service-connected fracture of right mandible.

Your claims of service connection for various conditions have been granted. The right foot metatarsalgia issue was previously severed from your service-connected disability picture, but the pain is still considered part of your overall condition.

The Veteran's initial rating for intervertebral disc syndrome is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for a bilateral hip condition and right knee strain with osteoarthritis are both denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis in his hands and fingers, a psychiatric disorder, arthritis of his hips, cervical spine, left knee, wrists, and right knee. The issues of arthritis of the bilateral hips, cervical spine, left knee, and bilateral wrists have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions. The issue of hypertension has also been remanded for further examination.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding whether any current left knee disorder is related to active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee and a VA medical opinion to determine if he was unemployable prior to July 24, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for left knee, right knee, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include anxiety and depression are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.