Knee decisions — 2019

The claim for service connection of bilateral knee disability and lumbar degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral knee braces, used due to his service-connected disabilities, cause wear and tear on his clothing. The Board found the evidence in equipoise and granted a clothing allowance for 2016.

The Veteran's left knee condition is related to his active service and the claim for service connection for a low back disability is remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of recurrent epistaxis, right foot plantar fasciitis, left ear hearing loss, patellofemoral pain syndrome (left knee), patellofemoral pain syndrome (right knee), trochanteris pain syndrome with trochanteric bursitis (left hip), and trochanteris pain syndrome with trochanteric bursitis (right hip).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes. The appeal was also remanded for further action on other issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's claimed periods of active duty service. The Veteran is seeking non-service-connected disability pension benefits and service connection for a left knee disorder, but his claims are being held in abeyance as another appeal involving these issues remains pending.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted with a 10 percent rating effective November 10, 2010.,The Veteran's right knee strain does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD and left knee arthritis, but denied the claims for chest pains (other than those due to GERD) and joint disorders. The Veteran's GERD is found to be related to his active service, while his left knee arthritis is also linked to his service. However, the chest pain and joint issues are not considered to have a direct link to his service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and disability manifested by sleeplessness with memory loss due to insufficient development or evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, as well as service connection for back and hip conditions. The AOJ must obtain a VA examination and opinions to determine the current nature and severity of the knee disability and whether it permanently worsened any current back or right hip condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to her service-connected hypertension, and instead more likely due to obesity. The other conditions listed are remanded for further review.,The Veteran’s claims for left shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral foot disabilities, gastrointestinal disability (GERD), right hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability are all being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis and strain, right knee and left knee conditions as secondary to his service-connected right foot disability and/or back disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and skin disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as a right shoulder disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with mild to moderate osteoarthritis and degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine, associated with right hip impairment post stress fracture femoral neck, is not rated higher than 20 percent. The radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is granted at a 10 percent rating prior to April 29, 2015 and denied thereafter.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and right elbow disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disorders, low back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder to include an adjustment disorder with anxious and depressed mood. The claim for Dupuytren contracture of the right hand is also remanded.