Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU. The remaining claims for higher ratings on his right and left knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including verifying the Veteran's claimed personal assault stressor and obtaining medical opinions regarding his diagnoses and service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not appear at his scheduled VA examinations and requests have been made to reschedule them. The case is being remanded for these examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for stroke is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart pathology (sinus bradycardia) is granted based on new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee DJD are both denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee DJD is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 18, 2014. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU have been met and grants the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, as there is conflicting evidence regarding the existence of knee disabilities and their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for painful joints and acid reflux, finding that the Veteran's DJD is not related to his service and GERD was not caused by in-service events.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of DJD and GERD were found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board found that discontinuance of VR&E services based on a negative feasibility determination was proper due to the Veteran's significant physical health issues and extensive limitations in his activities. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, back disorder, bilateral flatfoot, and degenerative joint disease of the left anterior crest have been denied.,The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to military service or any service-connected disabilities.

All claims for service connection and rating increases have been dismissed due to the appellant not filing an adequate substantive appeal.,The Board lacks jurisdiction over the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for left hip pain based on limitation of extension of the left thigh, entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip pain based on limitation of flexion of the left thigh, and entitlement to an effective date earlier than April 27, 2015, for the award of a 20 percent rating for left hip pain based on impairment of the left thigh.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia, left knee retropatellar syndrome with mild instability and decreased mobility, and migraine headaches are all granted. The effective dates for these grants are July 23, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for further examination of his left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an additional VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, as his service-connected condition may have worsened since the last examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings and TDIU due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss and left knee disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the service connection claim for a bilateral knee disability. The claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as obstructive sleep apnea (secondary to anxiety disorder), are remanded due to insufficient medical nexus opinions. Additionally, temporary total evaluations based on hospital treatment and convalescence are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability due to inadequate VA examination and lack of consideration of all relevant evidence, including lay statements.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for right knee condition due to new and material evidence. However, both issues of service connection for right knee disability and lumbar spine disability are remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to or aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to insufficient medical evidence on file. The issues include service connection for PTSD and alcohol abuse disorder, right knee condition, left knee condition, and sleep apnea.