Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have first manifested during active military service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including additional VA examinations and consideration of his claims. The issues include service connection for a sleep disorder, as well as increased ratings for various foot and ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine and left and right knee disabilities are service-connected as they were aggravated by her military service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and left knee disabilities. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical records, arrange for a VA examination, and then review the claims with consideration of all applicable laws and regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities has been dismissed as the RO granted service connection for the knee disability in June 2014, which represents a full grant of benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss are service-connected, as they were incurred during his active duty. However, the bilateral heel condition and knee condition do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran was not diagnosed with a chronic bilateral shoulder/arm disability at any point during the appeal period.,A chronic bilateral hand disability was not manifest in active service, arthritis of the hands was not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of discharge from active duty, and any bilateral hand disability was not otherwise etiologically related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, or right knee disorders. As a result, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and back disabilities are as likely as not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU on a schedular basis for the periods from February 1, 2011, and prior to March 17, 2011, and from July 1, 2011, forward. The case is REMANDED for extraschedular consideration of a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities prior to December 15, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis is not related to his military service and fails to meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disabilities. The case will be reviewed again after all necessary actions are completed.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as he failed to provide sufficient information and evidence to establish that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and sustain a substantial gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with a noncompensable rating assigned for sinusitis effective May 15, 2006. The Veteran was also granted service connection for various disabilities including radiculopathy of the upper extremities, right wrist disability, left knee disability, right arm disability, right knee disability, sciatic nerve disability, and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach disorder, increased rating for right ankle disability, and initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the shoulders and knees were denied. The reduction in evaluation for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease was also found to be improper.

The Veteran's appeals were denied for various conditions and benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal on the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 60 percent for Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome and whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen claims of service connection for a neck disability and left ovarian/pelvic pain has been withdrawn. The remaining appeals are addressed below.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right shoulder degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and lumbosacral strain have been denied as his conditions do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

Your appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The claims will be processed after the hearing.