Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability has been reopened, but the low back disability and right knee disability claims are still pending. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Board has also remanded the issues of systemic joint, thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, peripheral vestibular, scars, hypertension, and migraine headaches disabilities, as well as acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examinations and inability of the VA examiner to provide opinions without resorting to mere speculation. The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include left arm, left knee, right knee, and right leg injuries as well as a service-connected left middle finger deformity.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of right knee strain with degenerative changes was denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating based on limitation of motion. Service connection claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right foot disability were also addressed but no specific disposition is provided.

The Veteran's right and left knee braces, used for service-connected disabilities, tended to wear out or tear his clothing. The Board granted annual clothing allowances for the 2016 calendar year.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric/substance abuse disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, low back disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his knee conditions.

The Veteran's left knee condition is denied as there is no evidence of a pre-service injury or disease. The acquired psychiatric disability, including persistent depressive disorder and other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder, is granted as the symptoms began during service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee replacement and pain and numbness in buttocks due to secondary service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and thus grants service connection for both knees.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with his pending claims for increased ratings and entitlement to service connection. The case will be referred to the Director, Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's left knee condition and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as service connected.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and the review of outstanding medical records are necessary to properly evaluate the Veteran's right knee scar, right knee disability, and right knee instability.

The Veteran's service-connected asthma does not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation due to his disability rating and other service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances for knee braces due to lack of evidence showing that her knee braces caused wear and tear on her clothing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right ankle, and psychiatric disorders. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's initial rating for PTSD is denied, and the case is remanded for further development including a TDIU claim and an effective date determination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if a current acquired psychiatric disability, such as PTSD, is present and whether it is at least as likely as not caused by or related to service.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left hip, and left knee disorders, as well as a skull fracture (claimed as TBI) and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims were based on the Veteran's reports of in-service injuries but lacked supporting medical evidence.