Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service connection claims for asthma and TMJ syndrome were denied. The Board also remanded the issues of increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and consideration of whether an extraschedular TDIU rating should be granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a right ankle injury and amputation of the right foot and leg below the knee are denied as there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence showing a current diagnosis of left ankle, right ankle, or left knee disorders. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his service-connected left shoulder and left knee disorders, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 20 percent rating for service-connected left knee instability effective March 1, 2010, as the reduction was not proper due to a failure to consider applicable regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding her foot, back and knee disabilities. The claims for PTSD, fatigue, gall bladder disability, gum disease, migraines, and varicose veins are also being remanded.

The Veteran's employment is not considered marginal or in a protected environment, and his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and conducting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee and right foot disabilities. The claim will be readjudicated after all relevant evidence is considered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including examinations and retrieval of relevant medical records.

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

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for his right knee condition, effective from June 4, 2015. He remains rated at 10 percent for the painful limited range of motion and peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral knee disability or bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and therefore service connection cannot be granted for these conditions.

The Board has separated the claim into two issues, involving the left knee and the right knee. The Veteran must be provided a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right and/or left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for both the service connection and pension claims, including obtaining treatment records and updating financial information. The case will be remanded to the AOJ for these actions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining the Veteran's service personnel records and conducting new VA examinations. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to higher disability ratings for left and right knee disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected conditions have been denied. The VA has provided adequate examinations and the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.