Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that there is no credible supporting evidence of the Veteran's alleged in-service stressors, and therefore service connection for PTSD cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected conditions had worsened since the last examination.

The Veteran's request for service connection for a left knee disorder is being remanded due to his failure to report for the scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after appropriate action.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability was denied, and the claim for service connection for tinnitus was also denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's tinnitus to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis with sciatica and right hip degenerative joint disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot disability.,However, the claim for service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel and medical records to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and bilateral knee disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not yet determined whether new and material evidence supports each individual claim. The right knee disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is not shown to be related to his service, and therefore denied his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee and hip arthralgia, finding no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected tension headaches have been rated at 30 percent since June 1, 2010. The effective date for this rating is now set to June 1, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and arranging for an examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The issues include diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia, peripheral neuropathy, onychomycosis (claimed as jungle rot), residuals of right knee injury, and fibromas.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for pension or special monthly pension benefits due to his unemployability and lack of permanent total disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and the retrieval of medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD was granted, with an effective date of October 20, 2008. The Veteran is currently rated at 70 percent for PTSD.,PTSD has caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas since October 20, 2008.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with a 30% rating effective November 7, 2008. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also granted. However, the claim for a meniscal tear of the left knee was denied, as was the request for an earlier effective date for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss warrants a 20 percent rating. The claim for increased tinnitus was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to decision. Service connection for low back disability, headaches, knee disabilities, hypertension, and shoulder disabilities have been established based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of vision loss, left eye; hypertension; a left knee disability; allergic rhinitis; hearing loss and tinnitus have been withdrawn prior to the Board promulgating a decision.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on being bedridden, housebound, or in need of aid and attendance of another due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as the VA examinations did not adequately address his overall combined impairment.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU. The RO has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability effective October 18, 2012.