Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and need for further clarification on whether the Veteran's pre-existing knee condition was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected right elbow, left wrist and fingers, left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, left elbow, and left index finger disabilities have been dismissed.,The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,Service connection claims for chronic diarrhea, a respiratory condition, hearing loss, bilateral shoulder pain, bilateral ankle pain, bilateral knee pain, and lower back pain are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II; asbestosis; asthma; bilateral hearing loss; left shoulder disability; right shoulder disability; low back disability; left hip disability; and right hip disability are all denied. The claim for service connection of the right knee disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and an undiagnosed illness due to lack of adequate supporting evidence in the current record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for a compensable initial disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a right knee disability require additional development, including obtaining updated medical evidence and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection for a left knee disorder and tinnitus is granted. The previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss and right thigh nerve compression (claimed as femoral artery nerve syndrome and meralgia paresthetica) are reopened.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral hip degenerative joint disease is granted. The low back disability issue remains pending.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for an examination and medical opinion addressing his employability given his service-connected disabilities, as well as discrepancies in his educational and work history.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is found to have caused his left hip and left knee disabilities, leading to the grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's disability rating for degenerative joint disease of the left knee based on limitation of extension was restored to 30 percent from November 1, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an additional examination of the Veteran's right total knee arthroplasty.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of scars of the chin and neck, left knee disorder, and hypertension. The restoration of a 20 percent rating for peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen claims of service connection for cervical disc disorder, back disability, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. These issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied them. The claim for a bilateral knee condition was granted on remand.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and the claim for a higher rating prior to September 27, 2016 remains in appellate status.,A remand is required due to deficiencies within the Board’s analysis regarding additional functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, right-hand dermatitis, and bilateral knee condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for right ear cholesteatoma is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of the lower extremities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from May 29, 2015, to October 3, 2018. The Board granted TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The issues include various psychiatric conditions, sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle pain, joint pain, and GERD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.