Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and knee disabilities were denied, but his bilateral hearing loss disability was granted a noncompensable rating prior to November 9, 2012, and a 50% rating thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination for his hair loss disability. The remaining claims are also being remanded as the RO has not yet issued an SOC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The right knee issue will be remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, as well as a new VA examination to assess current right knee impairment.

The Veteran's application to restore a 30 percent rating for his service-connected left knee chondromalacia and degenerative joint disease has been granted. The remaining issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for right shoulder disorder, right foot gout, left foot gout, left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, tinnitus, and gastritis are addressed in the remand portion.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 60 percent for left and right total knee replacements, and a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The issue regarding radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for bipolar disorder and an eye disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been received.,The Board also granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that new and material evidence has been received.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and requests a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all remaining issues.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability and finds that it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability. Service connection is therefore granted.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance was denied because his knee and ankle braces are fabric-covered and do not tend to wear or tear clothing, as determined by the Under Secretary for Health.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for slight lateral instability of the right knee, associated with service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and numbness of bilateral upper extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service or service-connected disabilities.,Specifically, the Board determined that the Veteran did not have a current left knee condition related to his in-service motor vehicle accidents and found no causal relationship between his claimed left knee disorder and his right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for right hand, right knee, left lower extremity and right lower extremity disorders. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is related to his active military service and grants service connection on a direct basis.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease and reconstructed meniscus, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the current rating adequately reflects his functional impairment.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated at the initial 20 percent level since December 17, 2002. The Board has granted a higher rating of 40 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity as of April 20, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 30, 2003.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations, and the issue of an increased evaluation for his right knee condition remains before the Board.