Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran’s claims for left shoulder, back, and left knee conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability. The low back and psychiatric issues are remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.

Service connection is granted for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder (claimed as low back pain). Service connection is denied for thyroid disorder. The Veteran's service-connected right foot bunionectomy of the big toe with pin fixation of the second hammertoe and left foot bunion with DJD of the first metatarsophalangeal joint are not aggravated by his other service-connected conditions.,Service connection is granted for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder (claimed as low back pain). Service connection is denied for thyroid disorder. The Veteran's service-connected right foot bunionectomy of the big toe with pin fixation of the second hammertoe and left foot bunion with DJD of the first metatarsophalangeal joint are not aggravated by his other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an adequate VA examination report, specifically regarding functional loss during flare-ups and after repeated use over time.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder, right hip and knee disabilities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU due to the combined effect of these disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including arthritis and degenerative joint disease. The examiner should consider the Veteran's job duties during service, his lack of formal medical care during desert deployments, and his son's testimony about his condition upon return from service.

The claim for service connection of a right knee disorder is reopened, and the issues of rating for left infrapatellar tendonitis and allergic rhinitis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete STRs and need for further medical examinations. The issues include knee, cervical spine, upper back, foot, IBS, and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran is granted educational assistance benefits at a 100% rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill due to his service-connected left knee condition.

A rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for a right knee disability is granted from October 4, 2012 onward.,A rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for a right ankle strain is granted from February 26, 2018, onward.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected left knee disorder and his current back and right knee disorders.

The Veteran's back and right knee disabilities are granted as service-connected. The cervical spine disability is denied.

The previously denied claims for right knee and right ankle conditions have been reopened.,Prostate cancer has been granted service connection, but a compensable rating for sinusitis is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment, as evidenced by her inability to perform physical or sedentary work due to chronic neck and back pain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back and left knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 40% for the back disability or more than 10% for the left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative arthritis and scars from a patellectomy, is rated at 30% for the entire appeal period. The Veteran also receives a 10% rating for his service-connected right knee scars. Additionally, the Veteran is granted TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 1, 2011. The Board has granted TDIU from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity disabilities necessitate the use of a LEFT ankle foot orthosis (AFO) and LEFT knee brace. The Board has ordered remand to gather additional evidence regarding clothing allowance claims for these devices.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error due to the failure to obtain and associate with the file VA treatment records from October 22, 2013 to May 21, 2018. The Veteran's knee disabilities were last evaluated in July 2014, and he has reported increased severity of symptoms since then. Therefore, a new examination is needed.