Knee decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected DJD of the left and right knees, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to military noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. The issue of secondary service connection for osteoarthritis of the neck, back, fingers, knees, and ankles due to rheumatoid arthritis remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and medical opinion. The Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and right knee disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU were granted, but the specific ratings assigned are not provided in this decision.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his back and neck disabilities, are related to his service. The Board has granted the claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee and left shoulder disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a video conference with the appellant. The veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back and bilateral knee disabilities are related to his service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran meets the threshold requirements for TDIU due to a single service-connected disability rated at 40 percent or more and a combined rating of 70 percent or higher. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities, including depression, left knee disability, low back disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, and left ankle and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board/videoconference hearing. The TDIU rating issue is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating matter and must be deferred until that matter is resolved.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, prevented him from engaging in heavy physical or strenuous manual labor but did not prevent him from performing sedentary work.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and because an SOC has not been issued for some of his service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for posttraumatic lumbar spine residual degenerative joint disease, chronic sacroiliac and coccyx sprain, chronic posttraumatic residual left shoulder sprain and degenerative joint disease, posttraumatic right knee residual degenerative joint disease, posttraumatic left knee residual degenerative joint disease, and posttraumatic left ankle residual degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination. The case will also be referred to the VA Director of Compensation and Pension Services for extraschedular consideration.

The Board found no ankle, knee, or hip injury or disorder manifested in service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims of increased evaluations for his right and left knee arthroplasty disabilities have been remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess current severity, as well as the need to obtain any relevant treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and Hepatitis C, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol dependence. Service connection for a left knee disability was denied due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right knee disability was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a rating in excess of 30 percent.