Knee decisions — 2019

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II and for service connection for degenerative disease of the right knee and hypertension as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for a new VA examination and additional records. The issues of TDIU are also inextricably intertwined with the remaining issues on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence on whether the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service, including injuries sustained while operating a forklift in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease, right knee disability, hypertension, and skin disability due to herbicide exposure. The claims are being remanded for additional development including obtaining medical records, scheduling VA examinations, and providing a medical opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and sinusitis disabilities. The knee disability claims are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has denied service connection for a right hand disability due to lack of current disability. The issues of service connection for left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded as additional VA treatment records may be relevant.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of earlier effective dates and initial ratings for his left knee disorder and back disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hip disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the current disabilities are related to in-service stressors and other factors.

The Veteran's service-connected patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left and right knees is rated at 10% each, with separate ratings for instability. The appeal was denied as no higher rating could be assigned based on current evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted service connection as it was incurred in service. The Veteran's anxiety disorder, however, is not found to be related to his service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hip, knee, and cervical spine disabilities as secondary to a lumbosacral strain due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete examinations and lack of proper consideration of Gulf War exposure. The Veteran is required to undergo a Gulf War examination to address his claimed conditions.

Service connection is granted for hemorrhoids and lumbar spine disability. Service connection is denied for left knee disorder, residuals from a head injury, and hypertension.,The Veteran's kidney conditions were not shown to have been aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is at least as likely as not related to a right knee injury during Reserve service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral shoulder and elbow disabilities. The decision is final as these conditions have not been diagnosed or shown to be related to service.,For the remaining issues, including left ankle, knee, and hip disabilities, the Board has found that VA needs to provide a medical examination to determine if there are current disabilities and whether they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are related to his service-connected back or neck disabilities.

Prior to November 22, 2017, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.,Since November 22, 2017, the Veteran has a combined rating of 80 percent for his service-connected disabilities and is rated at 100 percent for kidney cancer. His TDIU claim is denied as he can secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, right knee disability, and sleep disorder due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's MDD is rated at 50 percent, effective September 24, 2014. The Veteran's left knee disability prior to March 5, 2013, is rated at 10 percent. A TDIU rating is granted.