Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder as secondary to service-connected pes planus. The low back disorder claim is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was denied. The cases of the low back disability, right knee chondromalacia patella, and left knee surgical scars are remanded due to lack of recent medical records. The case of the left knee chondromalacia patella with medial meniscus tear is also remanded as it involves a rating issue.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee replacement was granted, and he is now receiving the maximum disability rating of 60 percent. A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability has also been granted.

The Veteran's PTSD, rated at 100% since October 18, 2012, and other service-connected disabilities combined to meet the criteria for a TDIU from May 1, 2015. Effective October 27, 2012, SMC at the housebound rate was granted.

The Board has determined that additional VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any present right and/or left knee conditions, as well as their relationship to service.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is being remanded for additional development to verify his dates of active duty and inactive duty training, as well as further medical review.

The Veteran's PTSD and right knee disability have been remanded for further evaluation due to new evidence and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service records and a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for nonspecific headaches has been denied as the evidence does not show characteristic prostrating attacks of migraine headache pain or very frequent prostrating and prolonged attacks of migraine headache pain.,The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left lower extremity shin splint are remanded as the VA examination report is inadequate to address the severity of these conditions during flare-ups or when weight-bearing.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected costochondritis has been remanded as the VA examination report did not evaluate the functional effects of a flare-up and failed to specify which disabilities caused functional loss or to what extent.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is remanded as the VA examination report did not provide an explanation for the examiner’s failure to evaluate the functional effects of a flare-up.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, based on limitation of motion. The Board found no evidence warranting a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development of the record, including obtaining VA and SSA records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the cases of bilateral eye disability and knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment and personnel records for the Veteran's Army National Guard and Army Reserve service. The AOJ must verify all periods of INACDUTRA and ACDUTRA, including any Army National Guard combat training at Fort Irwin, California, and request complete service treatment and personnel records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to his military service, including as secondary to his service-connected corns and calluses of the feet.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded to assign a rating for his right knee disability following the one-year, 100 percent time period. The Veteran will undergo an examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for her service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been denied. A separate 10% disability rating has been granted for symptomatology akin to right knee slight lateral instability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases are being remanded due to an error in the VA's duty to assist.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee tendonitis, finding that his current condition did not arise from an in-service injury and is not related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since June 4, 2009. The Board grants a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities because no new and material evidence was submitted, and the existing evidence did not establish a nexus between his current conditions and service.