Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from performing the physical acts required to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU, but remanded for further examination and rating of his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limitation of motion, is currently rated at 10 percent and the appeal for an increased rating has been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether a reduction in disability evaluation for left knee strain from 20% to 10% was appropriate. Additional development is needed, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's contentions and the March 2010 VA examiner's findings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion regarding his thoracolumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and limited range of motion, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board denied higher ratings for these conditions.,A rating higher than 20 percent for hypertension was also denied on the merits.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including a right knee disorder, right hip disorder, bilateral hand and foot neurologic disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence did not show any chronic diagnoses of these conditions in service or within one year after separation from active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection of low back disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's use of VA-issued bilateral ankle and knee braces is found to consistently wear or tear his clothing, warranting a clothing allowance for the year 2017. The Board granted this request based on relative equipoise in the evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran also requested an additional TDIU (Total Disability Independent of Rating) but was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbosacral strain, leg limitation of flexion of right knee, cervical strain, and major depressive disorder as they were not found to be related to active service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity as to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran withdrew all his appeals except for the issue of service connection for diabetes, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents or secondary to PTSD. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is remanded due to a lack of examination focusing solely on her service-connected disabilities. She needs an opportunity to be examined by a VA clinician.

The Veteran's left knee PFS and instability are rated at 10 percent each, with a separate rating for his meniscectomy. The Board granted TDIU from April 4, 2018 based on the combined ratings of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted increased ratings of 50% for each knee, but failed to address the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of his legs preventing natural knee action.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, including as due to a service-connected left knee disability; right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome; and an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD (depression).

The Board denied service connection for left knee pain with loss of motion, including patellofemoral syndrome, due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.,Service connection was also denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically adjustment disorder and dysthymic disorder, as there is no medical link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's GERD symptoms are now rated at the highest possible rating of 60 percent, effective August 25, 2013. The right knee disability remains in a remanded status with no assigned rating.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are being remanded due to the need for a new examination by an orthopedist. The RO will also ask if he still wants a live videoconference hearing.