Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was granted a rating of 10% before May 13, 2016 and denied for higher ratings after that date. Service connection was established for his right knee disability as secondary to left knee chondromalacia. The low back condition is also service-connected as secondary to the left knee disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a right knee condition, low back condition, or loss of use of the left foot with foot drop. The evidence does not show current disabilities in any of these conditions and there is no medical nexus linking them to active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for insomnia disorder with other medical comorbidity, persistent, associated with left knee strain has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board and RO have previously denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability. New evidence has been submitted, but it does not establish that his current condition is related to service or secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee disability, allergies, and tinnitus have all been granted. The conditions are found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, right hip strain with degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left knee anterior cruciate ligament tear status post repair with residual scarring is denied.,An effective date of April 19, 2012, is granted for the award of an increased, 10 percent rating for right knee genu recurvatum.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a combined 30 percent rating for left knee retropatellar pain syndrome is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting TDIU. The right knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are not service connected.

The Board has determined that there is no nexus between the Veteran's current lumbar spine and right knee disabilities and his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for bronchitis. Service connection is granted for malaria, joint pain, skin rash, and shrapnel wounds of the right lip, knee, and hand. The issue of reducing disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding his knee disabilities. A right wrist examination will also be conducted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart condition, prostate cancer, glaucoma, and left knee replacement. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left and right knee degenerative joint disease are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for PTSD, service connection for left leg/knee condition, and service connection for a left foot condition are pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral shin splints, allergic rhinitis (sinus problems), GERD, and left knee disability are all granted. The Board finds that the Veteran had these conditions during his active duty in Iraq.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal on the issues of service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disability, increased rating for depressive disorder NOS, and initial increased rating for pes cavus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability. The issue will be reconsidered after the examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining a new VA examination and opinion regarding his service-connected back disorder, right knee iliotibial band syndrome, left knee iliotibial band syndrome, and bilateral calcaneal bursitis. The issues of entitlement to a 10 percent rating under 38 C.F.R. 3.324 for multiple, noncompensable, service-connected disabilities and entitlement to TDIU are also deferred until the claims can be properly adjudicated.