Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's left knee disability with instability is granted a separate 10 percent rating, but no higher. The issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for the left knee arthritis prior to December 11, 2017, and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter remains in appellate status.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an adequate examination addressing both secondary causation and aggravation of the Veteran's right knee disability, which is related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claimed conditions, as the VA examiner did not adequately address whether he has a qualifying chronic disability or medically unexplained multisymptom illness.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are directly related to his military service, including parachute jumping during service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral knees due to incomplete development. The Veteran's sister stated that his behavior changed after returning from overseas during active duty, but this evidence was not considered in previous opinions.

The Veteran's headaches, low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right ankle disability are all granted as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render her in need of regular assistance from another person for daily activities or to protect herself from hazards, thus denying her claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address instability during flare-ups. The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are being reviewed for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee instability and osteoarthritis were denied as the evidence did not show findings consistent with higher disability evaluations.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for service connection of a left knee disability, which was granted in June 2013. The Board denied this request.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, with the presumption that it is related to active military service.,Service connection is remanded for COPD, as there is insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left elbow conditions due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of post-service medical treatment records. The Veteran will be asked to authorize release of private medical records from Kaiser Permanente and a new VA examination is required.

The Board has denied an increased rating for right knee chondromalacia and has remanded the issues of service connection for Hashimoto's thyroiditis, breast cancer, and SMC for anatomical loss of breast tissue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his left knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation and consideration due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for updated examinations, additional VA treatment records, and consideration of whether his combined rating meets the requirements for a grant of TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied an increased rating for left knee DJD based on limitation of extension and a compensable rating for limitation of flexion. However, it granted a separate compensable rating for slight instability of the left knee.

The claim for service connection for hypertension, also claimed as stroke, was reopened and granted. The claims for service connection for gout, allergies, and arthritis of the bilateral legs, hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, hands, and fingers were denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right hip conditions due to a lack of an opinion on whether these conditions are related to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is also denied service connection for his bilateral knee conditions, as well as hypertension.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding dental condition, eye condition, prostatic condition, and right inguinal hernia repair. Service connection was granted for adjustment disorder with mixed features of anxiety and depression.