Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's left knee disability was incurred in service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure that all relevant evidence has been considered in connection with the Veteran's claims.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that his pre-existing condition was not aggravated during any period of active duty or inactive duty training.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of a right knee meniscus tear was previously denied, and new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The left ankle disability is rated at 40 percent prior to November 18, 2011, and 60 percent as of that date. The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted effective from March 24, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee chondromalacia, as well as chronic lumbar pain with myofascial muscle strain, were granted. The effective date is October 30, 2012.

The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to restoration of the 20 percent rating for his service-connected left knee disorder and the 30 percent rating for his service-connected left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's claimed bilateral knee disabilities, including degenerative joint disease and chondromalacia patella, are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or as a result of her military service.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple claims regarding various disabilities, including knee issues, psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea, allergies, back pain, sciatica, and hearing loss. The case is being remanded for a live hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete development and potential consideration of undiagnosed illness or multi-symptom illnesses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee arthritis are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee injury residuals with associated arthritis, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person. Therefore, he is not entitled to special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability did not pre-exist service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of tingling in upper and lower extremities, bilateral knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and short-term memory loss as manifestations of an undiagnosed illness due to exposure to Gulf War hazards.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate development and compliance with previous remands. The Veteran will need to undergo a VA examination to address his right knee and back disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee bursitis is less likely than not incurred in or caused by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus denied his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and opinions regarding specific diagnoses and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied on all issues related to his service-connected conditions, with no new evidence provided that would warrant reopening the claims.