Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the VA examination in September 2016 is inadequate and requires a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disability, including flare-ups.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an annual VA clothing allowance due to the use of various braces and a skin medication. The case will be returned to the VHA for further review, including sending a new VCAA notice letter and obtaining additional records.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for erectile dysfunction is dismissed as he withdrew his claim during the July 2017 Board hearing.,The Veteran’s claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability, pulmonary sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea), and right lower extremity nerve disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing secondary service connection theories.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a pulmonary sleep disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing the relationship between his obesity and service-connected disabilities, and whether it was caused or aggravated by his psychiatric disability.,The Veteran’s claim of service connection for a right lower extremity nerve disability is remanded as there are conflicting diagnoses in the medical records regarding this condition.,The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, left knee instability with osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing his functional limitations during the period from August 11, 2011 to September 2012.,The Veteran's claim of increased rating for left lower extremity sciatic nerve disability is remanded as there are conflicting diagnoses in the medical records regarding this condition.,The Veteran’s claims of increased ratings for depression are remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing his functional limitations during the period from August 11, 2011 to September 2012.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including neck disability, left knee and right knee disabilities, chronic fatigue, sleep disorder, headaches, left arm and leg disabilities. The severance of service connection for fractured teeth #15 and #17 is also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for determining the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability. The Veteran seeks an increased rating, but a new VA examination is needed to assess her condition and determine if she is entitled to a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and denied a compensable rating for migraine headaches, finding no evidence of a causal relationship between the conditions and the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, and his educational background allows him to perform sedentary work. The Board denies entitlement to TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic right knee disability that began in service or was otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been presented, allowing the reopening of the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain post ligament repair and right knee instability post ligament repair due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's flare-ups and functional impairment. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it could be significantly impacted by these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the hips, knees, and shoulders, hypertension, and double vision have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and anxiety, were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability has been reopened, but further development is needed due to the need for new medical opinions and retrieval of private treatment records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee disability is denied. A 10 percent rating is granted for the left knee disability, subject to regulations governing monetary awards. The Veteran's request for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability is also denied.

Service connection has been granted for a cervical spine degenerative joint disease with radiculopathy, a mood disorder, and depressive disorder. Service connection remains denied for a left knee injury.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of cervical spine degenerative joint disease with radiculopathy, mood disorder, and depressive disorder are all considered to be related to his service.

The Board's June 1984 decision was reversed, restoring the Veteran's TDIU rating as it failed to apply the correct regulations for reducing a total disability rating.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for left knee disability and hepatitis (claimed as hepatitis B and D) have been reopened. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to support these claims.

The petition to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions is granted. The cases are remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorders. The claim for service connection is denied as there is no credible evidence linking current right knee conditions to military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10%.,The Veteran's left knee disability was denied prior to March 17, 2014 and granted a 20% rating from that date until October 1, 2015. It remains denied after that period.