Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions.,For the right knee disability and burn scar of the right hand, further development is needed as their etiology may not have been properly documented in the service treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 10% disability rating for scars of the forehead and chin was denied. The claims for increased ratings for various disabilities, including PTSD with depression, were also denied.

The Veteran's low back strain, right knee chondromalacia, and post operative residuals of a left knee injury were all evaluated as 10 percent disabling prior to September 21, 2012.,The Veteran failed to report for VA examinations scheduled in relation to his claims on September 21, 2014.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is manifested by noncompensable limitation of motion. The Board finds that the disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent for arthritis with painful limited motion, and his second degree burn scars are rated at 10 percent for loss of sensation. The claims for left knee and low back disabilities have not been resolved in the Veteran's favor.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches as a residual of an in-service head injury (claimed as TBI). The remaining claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and possible outstanding treatment records. The Veteran's low back disability may be related to service, but his left knee disability requires a new VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees is found to be etiologically related to active service. The Board finds that new VA examinations are necessary to determine if his low back strain, cervical and neck strain, and bilateral ankle strains are etiologically related to active service or secondary to his now service-connected bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his right knee disability and any neck disorder, as well as to clarify whether he is receiving benefits from a source other than VA.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected right forearm scar since April 26, 2011.,The Board has also granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected right knee DJD with limited extension since October 16, 2012.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence of current diagnoses for a low back disability, left hip disability, or bilateral knee disability. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

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

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's statements and treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right knee disabilities are related to service, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.,Both low back degenerative disc disease and right knee traumatic degenerative joint disease were found to be incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD has been granted, with the disability rated at 70 percent from April 8, 2008 to September 15, 2009 and from November 1, 2009 to July 28, 2011. Service connection for chloracne, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right knee osteoarthritis, and chin scar have been reopened.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his service-connected right knee disability and granted a rating of 20 percent for his back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of knee pain since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee strain and right ankle sprain have been denied. The current ratings do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and meniscus damage, has not met the criteria for a higher rating from July 26, 2005 to November 29, 2010. For periods from February 1, 2012 to October 6, 2014 and from December 1, 2015 to present, the disability has not met the criteria for a rating higher than 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a DRO hearing and issuance of a Statement of the Case for issues of service connection for tinnitus and hearing loss.