Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip condition, left knee condition, and PTSD due to insufficient evidence in some cases and because updated examinations are needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations, and no good cause was shown.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for skin condition was dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

Service connection has been granted for low back and bilateral knee disabilities. Effective dates have also been granted for PTSD service connection, but not for hypertension.,The Veteran's right hip disability, obstructive sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disability (secondary to PTSD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (secondary to PTSD), initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, and staged ratings for PTSD are all pending further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to support reopening of his claims. The appeals are remanded for further development including VA examinations and opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran’s current conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disorder, but remanded his claims for left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, and foot disorders due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obesity, right knee disability, left knee disability, asthma, and congestive heart failure. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide a VA examination.

The Veteran is granted annual VA clothing allowances for the year 2014 due to use of a cane, wheelchair, crutches, and short leg braces. The clothing allowance is based on his service-connected disabilities related to a shell fragment wound.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of TBI is denied. The Veteran's right knee disability and PTSD are granted with specific ratings, but the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for post-operative lumbar spine disorder, bilateral foot disorder, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The decision is based on a lack of current evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's recent VA examinations for his right ankle sprain and degenerative joint disease, as well as left knee degenerative joint disease, did not comply with the requirements set forth in Correia v. McDonald and Sharp v. Shulkin. Therefore, a new examination is needed to assess the current level of severity of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and entitlement to a TDIU prior to September 19, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of December 7, 2010. The effective date for the TDIU award is set at this date.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of service connection for a right knee disability and found that new evidence supports this reopening. However, it was determined that there is no direct link between the current right knee disabilities and service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was granted an increased rating of 20 percent prior to July 11, 2017. The left knee disability received a compensable (10%) rating prior to October 11, 2013 and denied any increase in rating after that date.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left knee contusion, non-osteogenic fibroma of the left tibial metaphysis, and a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are not related to his service, either directly or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, neuropathy of the face with motor dysfunction, bilateral shoulder disability, radiculopathy in bilateral lower extremities, left hip disability, and right finger disability, have rendered him unemployable prior to July 30, 2015. The Board granted his claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on the combined impact of these disabilities.