Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of back, bilateral knee, hearing loss, and tinnitus disorders have been denied. The effective date for the current rating of 50% for PTSD is April 4, 2013.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, elbow, ankle, hip, and knee have been granted initial ratings from November 1, 2011 to March 25, 2018. The rating for the lumbar spine was increased to 20% effective March 26, 2018.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and headaches (claimed as migraines).

The Veteran's rating for degenerative joint disease of the right knee was restored to 40 percent effective September 1, 2014. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee, and right ankle disabilities. However, it has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for left shoulder and right elbow disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and requests for additional information.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder disability and remanded the issues of service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability and skin cancer due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran served as a paratrooper, which may have caused his current knee disability. His skin cancers are also under review due to possible exposure to hazardous environmental contaminants during service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for lower jaw disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and skin disability over the right lower extremity due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's claims are being referred back for further examination and consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right knee disorder and his rating for postoperative residuals of right triple arthrodesis due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination for PTSD. The claims are being remanded to allow for this development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further examination. The Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is conceded.

The Veteran's back, left and right knee disabilities were denied as service connection because the evidence did not establish a relationship to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to lack of adequate examination and treatment records.

The Veteran's low back strain is now rated at 20 percent effective December 5, 2016. Her left and right knee disabilities remain at 10 percent each.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and knee disabilities are not severe enough to require regular aid and attendance, so SMC based on this is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's terminal hospital reports and missing February 2017 rating action. The appellant’s claims for service connection are also remanded due to an incomplete list of dates the Veteran served on active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.