Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the scar is rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that a higher rating for either condition is not warranted.,The Veteran’s left knee scar does not meet the criteria for a separate compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to consider whether a temporary total rating for convalescence beyond October 31, 2016, for the residuals of right knee surgery should be granted and if so, whether TDIU should also be granted. Additional development is needed as there are records from an infectious disease specialist that have not been obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence or lack of compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's initial rating for ischemic heart disease is granted at a 10 percent level. The Veteran's TBI with migraine headaches is also granted, but only at the noncompensable (zero percent) level. Other service-connected disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current right knee and right ankle disabilities and his military service, as well as their relation to a service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including evaluations for lumbar spine and right thumb conditions, a compensable evaluation for a right thumb disability, and service connection for gluten intolerance and bilateral knee disabilities. The remand requires additional examinations and opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's combined disability rating has been at least 80 percent since February 23, 2007. Despite having multiple part-time and full-time jobs with substantial earnings from April 2017 to July 2019 as a security guard, the Board found that he was employable throughout his appeal period.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of compliance with VA examination requirements for assessing the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left and right knee conditions.

The appeal for service connection of various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, bilateral eye disorder, headaches, TMJ, right and left knee and ankle disorders, erectile dysfunction, left and right lower extremity disorders is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development on the issues of service connection for a left knee disability and evaluations for his hemorrhoidectomy and sphincterotomy, right knee with Osgood-Schlatter’s disease, and degenerative disc disease at L5-S1. The TDIU issue is also REMANDED.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient nexus opinions provided by the VA examiners. The Veteran's back and knee conditions are being reviewed again with additional medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right foot, left foot, right knee, and left knee conditions due to insufficient evidence in his file. Additional development is needed including obtaining medical records from various providers and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and remanded the issues of service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, left ankle, and right knee disabilities. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's jaw disability does not meet the criteria for service connection. The issues of secondary service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as service connection for headache disability, are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaption grant due to lack of loss of use of limbs, blindness, or inhalation injury.,The Veteran was not found in need of regular aid and attendance based on his service-connected disabilities as he had dementia which is not service connected.

The Veteran's right shoulder osteoarthritis is granted as incurred during service.,Right deltoid scars and right lower leg disability are remanded for further development.,A left knee disability is remanded for further development.,Tinea versicolor of the posterior thorax remains remanded for further development.,Right knee Osgood-Schlatter disease is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and procedural issues, including scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and an additional VA examination is required.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from December 19, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities. However, the Board also remanded for extraschedular TDIU consideration prior to that date.