Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded due to a duty to assist error that occurred prior to the April 2022 decision on appeal. The Board must associate copies of all relevant private treatment records from VistA with the claims file.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial disability rating were denied. The Veteran was granted a temporary total evaluation, an increased rating of 10 percent for left hip limitation of flexion, and a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5054 for residuals of right hip replacement from February 1, 2019. The Veteran's claims for SMC were also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II, high blood pressure, right knee disorder, and lumbar disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's status post above the knee amputation of the right lower extremity, residuals of multiple failed right total knee arthroplasty revisions, and RLE painful scars are rated at 60 percent and 10 percent respectively. The Board denied increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, specifically whether it is related to his service-connected conditions or if it was caused by obesity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, neck condition, and right knee condition due to a lack of VA examinations addressing these conditions.

Service connection is granted for DDD with strain and degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral spine.,Service connection is granted for right knee degenerative arthritis with post-traumatic changes.,Service connection is granted for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and chondromalacia of the left knee are being remanded for additional development.,A VA examination is needed to address the severity of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, specifically his reports of throbbing pain, swelling, and leg tremors at night.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of specific information regarding where pain begins during range of motion testing, and requests that new VA examination be conducted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate examination, and the Veteran's right knee arthritis needs further evaluation.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a right knee disability and various ratings for coronary artery disease. The main issue is that the AOJ did not fully comply with previous instructions to verify the mailing address of the Veteran's unit at Ft. Lewis.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to October 21, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to a claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s), prior to August 10, 2022. However, the Board found that VA's duty to assist requires an examination to determine if the Veteran is housebound due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability due to insufficient efforts in obtaining relevant private treatment records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating increase and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to incomplete medical records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance from January 15, 2021.,The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant is denied.

The Veteran's hip and knee disabilities have been granted initial evaluations, but the Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are remanded due to errors in obtaining and reviewing VA treatment records prior to August 2019, as well as failing to schedule a VA examination.

Your appeal has been dismissed because you did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement and good cause was not shown to extend the time for filing an appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating evaluation for hearing loss, hypertension, left knee scar, right knee tricompartmental degenerative arthritis, arthritis - hands, fingers, shoulder, hips, knees and right clavicle, insomnia, low back pain, numbness in arms, or right shoulder condition.