Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an updated medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The decision is mixed on the right knee issue, as it was withdrawn prior to the issuance of a final decision.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for various hip, ankle, and knee conditions. The Veteran's previous claims were denied due to lack of a relationship between the conditions and his service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including type II diabetes mellitus with hypertension and bilateral knee condition, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee replacements, finding that they are related to his military service, including parachute jumps.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of increased disability ratings for the service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral foot disabilities are also being addressed.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disorders were initially manifested during active service.,Service connection is granted for recurrent cervicalgia and cervical spine degenerative changes with neural foraminal narrowing; recurrent right knee chondromalacia and patellofemoral syndrome; and recurrent left knee chondromalacia and patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his left knee condition is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hip disability, and hypertension due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The claims for left knee chondromalacia with arthritis, right knee chondromalacia with arthritis, and right shoulder arthritis are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for a left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a submission of new evidence from the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and TDIU, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including arthritis of the back and knees, as well as a liver disability, are not related to service. The claims for alcohol and substance abuse have been addressed separately.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is causally related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee disability remains pending.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to lack of more severe limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of VCAA notice.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, left knee, and right hand disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of the left knee is related to his military service and has granted service connection for this condition.