Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for thoracic scoliosis and low back strain, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, chronic sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to concerns about incomplete information or bias in the previous VA examinations.

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

The Veteran's conditions, while rated at 70% each, do not meet the criteria for SMP benefits due to need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

Service connection is denied for left hip disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability.,Service connection is denied for acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder and adjustment disorder).,The Veteran's cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, low back disorder, left and right foot pes planus, functional bowel disease, and right knee degenerative joint disease. The decision found that new evidence did not establish a current disability or link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, bilateral hip replacement, and kidney disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The effective date of the award of service connection for residuals of left knee replacement has also been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal seeking increases in the 'staged' ratings for tinea versicolor, lumbosacral strain, and right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and left total knee replacement are being remanded for further evaluation.,The issue of a higher rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is also being remanded. ,The extension of the temporary total rating for right ankle convalescence beyond February 29, 2008 is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, degenerative disc disease with spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and residuals of a hysterectomy. The effective dates assigned are November 10, 2014 for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee and degenerative disc disease with spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and May 23, 2015 for residuals of a hysterectomy.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple conditions, including left shoulder disability, right knee and left knee disabilities, right ear hearing loss, bronchitis, irregular heart beat and dyspnea, frostbite of the left hand, diarrhea, and residuals of tick bites. The appeals are all denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a back disability and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient information in the medical opinions provided. The VA examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's right shoulder and left knee disabilities, as well as his sleep apnea and tinnitus, have been granted service connection.,Service connection for the right shoulder disability is based on a current diagnosis related to in-service injury. Service connection for the left knee disability is secondary to the service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she withdrew her appeals for the left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and right foot disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases due to missing service treatment records and military personnel records from 1994 to 1998, which were requested under the Veteran's former name (James Lee Brown).

The Board has found that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's TDIU claim due to new evidence added after the SOC, and because the Veteran wishes to appeal this issue. The AOJ will need to consider this new evidence and clarify whether the Veteran wants a hearing on his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 17, 2005, for the award of a 10 percent rating for service-connected arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied. The issues of increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence or lay statements supporting his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his left knee disability, as well as to reconcile conflicting evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a left leg amputation and diabetes mellitus with extensive diabetic autonomic neuropathy affecting his nerves, preclude him from independent locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. As such, he is eligible for specially adapted housing.