Knee decisions — 2016

The combined effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities has rendered him unemployable/unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the schedular requirements for TDIU eligibility.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and his claim for a TDIU rating is denied.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction, low back disability, left knee disability, right wrist disability, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep disorder are all granted as service-connected.

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

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate examinations and other procedural issues.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was withdrawn. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee and elbow disabilities, as well as migraine headaches, secondary to service-connected conditions, have been denied due to lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left lower extremity sciatica and PTSD are being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine spondylosis is being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome and headaches are being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected residuals of a traumatic brain injury is being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.,The reduction in rating for a right ankle disorder from 10 percent to a noncompensable rating was proper, and this portion of the appeal period is no longer before the Board.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue for a travel Board hearing. The Veteran's appeal is now pending and will be handled in accordance with appellate procedures.

The Veteran's healed scar, right iliac area residual of bone donor grafting, has been painful for the entire period on appeal and warrants a 10 percent disability rating. The Veteran's service-connected right knee DJD with knee strain is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability and finds that new evidence received since the August 2008 rating decision is sufficient to reopen the claim. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Shreveport VA Medical Center and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to evaluate the severity of his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The competent medical evidence does not demonstrate that the Veteran's current right knee disorder had an onset during his period of service or is otherwise related to his active duty. The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that it is proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as major depressive disorder, is due to his service-connected TBI. The remaining issues of service connection for a bilateral eye disability and left knee disability are denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and knee disability. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his in-service combat activities, and grants service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a new VA examination to assess his service-connected low back and right knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for MALT lymphoma/non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, TMJ dysfunction, bilateral knee disorders, hypertension (HTN), and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include bipolar disorder. The Veteran was not given enough time to submit additional evidence before the decision.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, right foot disability, left foot disability, bilateral toe disability, and cellulitis.