Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, left hip disability, right hip disability, left total knee replacement, and right total knee replacement are all service-connected due to aggravation of pre-existing conditions during military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right wrist, cervical spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disability and a lumbar spine disability. The appeals are being remanded due to outstanding records from Dr. James Morgan and the Texas Rehab Commission needing to be located and associated with the file, and a VA examination for the claimed psychiatric disability and lumbar spine disability is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a Gulf War illness, left arm neurological condition, initial compensable ratings for left and right knee strains, and initial compensable rating for dermatitis due to additional evidence submitted by VA. The AOJ is instructed to provide supplemental statements of the case as necessary.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder and right knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip disability, right hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, low back disability, and depressive disorder have been granted. The decision also remanded the claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for a right knee disability due to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances related to his service-connected conditions were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support the need for additional clothing allowances due to damage caused by his braces and topical medications.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his condition, as the previous examination report does not include necessary information from Correia v. McDonald (2016) and Sharp v. Shulkin (2017).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to his right knee and hips. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence or clarification of his symptoms.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the August 2001 denial. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and migraine headaches due to incomplete service medical records and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his acquired psychiatric condition, hearing loss disability, tinnitus, thoracic/lumbar spine disability, shoulder and knee disabilities, pes planus, eye disabilities, migraine headaches, acid reflux, pseudofolliculitis (PFB), hemorrhoids, pulmonary conditions, including COPD, and Meniere’s disease. The Board has remanded these issues for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability, including any residual signs or symptoms due to a meniscectomy and chondroplasty. A separate rating may also be warranted under Diagnostic Code 5259.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and left knee disability due to in-service herbicide agent exposure, as well as the TDIU claim. The Veteran's service records indicate possible herbicide exposure during his time stationed at Udon Royal Thai Air Force Base. VA must obtain relevant treatment records and verify the Veteran’s duty station and potential exposure.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as they are no longer relevant.

The Veteran's service-connected rheumatoid arthritis did not contribute to his death from congestive heart failure and diabetes.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete development of the total disability individual unemployability claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, right hip, right thigh, right knee, and right leg disabilities are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic subluxation of the left ankle and arthritis of the left knee and low back, did not render him unemployable prior to October 19, 2005.

The Veteran's low back pain and left knee strain have been granted increased ratings, with the effective date for these changes being September 10, 2015. The TDIU was also granted on this date.