Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination of his right knee and because the initial rating assigned for PTSD needs to be addressed. The issue of TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's hammertoe of the right second toe is related to service.,The Veteran's shoulder and knee disabilities are not related to service or any service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claimed bladder or bowel dysfunction is not related to his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and missing records. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a left knee impact fracture, dislocation, and meniscal tear is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted. The issue of entitlement to service connection remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at least 70 percent since February 3, 2009. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU rating effective from February 3, 2009.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as extraction of teeth. However, the specific nature of these connections remains unclear due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's urinary incontinence is rated at 40 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 60 percent based on his need to change absorbent materials more than four times per day due to urine leakage.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee and foot conditions and lumbar spine disability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of June 24, 2011.

The Veteran's BPPV was found to have its inception in service and continued since service, granting service connection for this condition. The other issues were not addressed due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided that the claims of entitlement to service connection for right ankle, bilateral knee, bilateral foot, and back disabilities must be remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated in service. The claim for service connection for upper/lower back disability and bilateral knee disability is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine and left hip disabilities, finding that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions at any point during or prior to the pendency of his claims. The Board also found that there was no evidence linking these disabilities to service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus claims have been reopened, with service connection for both conditions established.,Service connection has also been granted for degenerative joint disease of the back due to his service-connected knee condition. The Veteran is not entitled to a sleep disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee patellofemoral syndromes have been rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either knee, with flexion limited to at least 120 degrees in the right knee and at least 90 degrees in the left knee.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance for 2012 is denied as his knee braces do not meet the criteria for a clothing allowance due to lack of exposure basis and medical certification.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical examination and opinion to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in an impairment of his ability to retain employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests. The evidence shows that a MBA degree is necessary for the Veteran to remain employed at his current position.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, hip, back, and ankle disorders as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.