Knee decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right hand condition, refractive error and blepharitis (vision problems), bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, and psychiatric disorder. The decision also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee condition, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability and hearing loss prevent him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment, so his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted service connection. The right shoulder and left knee disabilities are granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion to address whether the condition is aggravated by his service-connected right thigh muscle injury.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a low back disability, left foot disabilities, and right knee disability (secondary to service-connected left knee disability), but denied these claims on their merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the preponderance of evidence is against a finding of current disabilities in some cases (neck).,Service connection has been granted for sleep apnea and aggravation by psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities not causing him to be in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the remand is necessary due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bipolar II disorder is proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected disabilities of the feet. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder but has remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative joint disease of bilateral knees.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee status post total replacement, back condition, and left hip condition. The claims for right foot and left foot conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches, OSA, IBS, TBI, cervical spine disability, and osteoarthritis of the left knee. The effective dates for these issues are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including knee disabilities and a TBI, have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The issues include right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, aggravation of preexisting migraine headaches, low back disability, right ankle disability, and traumatic brain injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, is related to his service and remanded for further examination.

The Veteran has elected to withdraw his appeals for various service connection claims, including those related to lung disorders, TBI, headaches, eye and teeth disorders, back issues, ankle and foot problems, and hearing loss.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development. The claims of service connection for diarrhea, forgetfulness, sleep problems and fatigue are also remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and evaluations for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss remain denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and development, specifically regarding the Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) and his claim for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).