Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on issues including increased ratings and extraschedular considerations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining any form of gainful employment. The Board has remanded the case for further examination to determine the impact of his low back disability on his employability.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed for the Veteran's left knee and left hallux valgus disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim due to the lack of medical evidence addressing the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is also instructed to obtain any outstanding VA medical records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for stress fractures of the bilateral hips, left and right knees, back condition, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's representative has withdrawn his appeals for the listed conditions and increased rating, effectively dismissing all issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and acquired psychiatric disorders due to new evidence received since the last rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of flexion, right knee, due to DJD is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea was denied in an unappealed March 2015 rating decision. Evidence received since then raises a possibility of substantiating the claim and thus the application to reopen is granted.,Claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for diabetic mellitus and diabetic nephropathy are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus with right achilles tendonitis is rated at 10 percent disabling, effective February 3, 2009. The Veteran also received a TDIU for the periods from February 3, 2009 through August 2, 2011 and from May 1, 2018 to present.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions including a left knee disability, thyroid condition (including thyroiditis), gastrointestinal disorder, respiratory condition, sleep disturbances, and headaches due to insufficient evidence or inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's current symptoms are being evaluated by VA examiners.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, TBI with memory impairment and tension-type headaches, and left knee instability. The issues of whether reductions in ratings were proper and entitlement to SMC restoration are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to outstanding VA and SSA records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon disability is denied as there is no evidence of current disability.

The Board has decided the claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of left knee, lumbar spine, and tinnitus disabilities. Effective dates prior to October 17, 2011 are denied.,Remaining issues on appeal include service connection for various conditions.

The Board has reopened several previously denied claims but has not granted service connection for any of the conditions. The decision is mixed, with some issues being remanded and others having new evidence received that does not meet the criteria for reopening.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and right foot disability were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.,Memory loss is considered a symptom of the service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety, so it does not warrant separate service connection.

The Veteran's left knee and right ankle disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected right femur fracture.

The Veteran's appeals were partially granted, with some issues receiving increased ratings and others remaining unchanged or denied. The effective dates for several grants of service connection are set to June 18, 2012.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to lack of VA examination for service connection claims related to left knee, right knee, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's left knee condition is rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that his range of motion does not warrant a higher rating due to pain and functional loss. The appeal was denied as there was no evidence of two or more major joints with occasional incapacitating exacerbations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and rating considerations due to the need for updated assessments of his service-connected disabilities, particularly those affecting his knees and hips. The issues include increased ratings for various knee and hip conditions.