Knee decisions — 2020

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, low back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and right leg disability (formerly claimed as right knee disability). The appeals are granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that she is not so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and assistance from another person.

The Board denied service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and chronic depression as secondary to knee pain. The Veteran's knee conditions are not linked to active service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and that new evaluations are necessary for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, right knee injuries, and left knee injury. The issues of increased ratings for these conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his lumbar spine disability is denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.,Service connection for GERD was denied because the medical records do not show a diagnosis within one year of separation from service and there is no competent medical opinion linking it to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability due to its potential secondary relationship with his now service-connected right knee DJD. The case is returned for further development and an opinion on whether the left knee disability was caused or aggravated by the right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for limitation of extension of the left knee with degenerative joint disease and left knee laxity were denied because he failed to appear at scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back and knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a left knee total knee replacement, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support such an increase.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee condition, left knee condition, and sleep apnea due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, bilateral knee disability, headaches, and hypertension due to inadequate VA examinations and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings for right and left shoulder strains, as well as chondromalacia of the right and left knees. The evidence did not show that any of these conditions warranted a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and other disabilities. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on these issues because no VA examiner has provided an opinion regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea or whether it is related to any service-connected disability. Additionally, he needs to provide a statement from his brother regarding his sleep apnea claim.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records should be obtained as they may contain relevant information about his SSA disability claim. The Veteran also needs to provide a statement from his brother regarding his sleep apnea claim.,VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from August 2017 to November 2017 reflect that the Veteran was in the process of filing a claim for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). However, there is no SSA decision or medical records upon which an SSA determination was based. Therefore, on remand, all records pertaining to any SSA disability claim should be obtained as they are potentially relevant to these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a low back disorder and entitlement to TDIU prior to July 29, 2013 due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's left ankle disorder is alleged to be related to his low back disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left knee strain, right knee osteoarthritis, and obstructive sleep apnea are all found to have been incurred during active service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The appeal for an increased rating for PTSD is dismissed. The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a right knee disability is granted, and the case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for a rating of 20 percent for left knee instability beginning January 16, 2014. A separate 20 percent rating is also granted for impairment of the left knee cartilage. The Veteran's arthritis and instability are rated at their maximum schedular ratings.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed for the period prior to January 17, 2017 due to his already receiving SMC based on housebound status. The case is remanded for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU on behalf of the Veteran from January 17, 2017.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination and requests for updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for upper and low back disorder and left knee disorder due to missing medical records and further development is needed.