Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding a 10% disability rating for tinnitus. The service connection claim for pneumothorax is remanded due to new evidence not raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The right knee and right eye disabilities, as well as PTSD, are also remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various conditions, and the reopening of claims for right knee disorder and left knee disorder. The Veteran's claims are now pending again.

The Board denied service connection for left hip, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities. The claims for right hip and right knee disabilities were also denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of limitation of motion to 30 degrees or less for flexion or 15 degrees or more for extension.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and likely cause of any neck, bilateral knee, breathing, and back disabilities. The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded.

The Board has granted a separate rating of 20 percent for a left meniscal disorder prior to September 9, 2013. The remaining issues are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation and rating of his knee conditions. The case will be considered again after the additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various shoulder, knee, and cervical spine disabilities have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.,Service connection has also not been granted for tinnitus due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis (psoriatic arthritis) is service connected. However, his bilateral total knee replacement was due to osteoarthritis and not related to psoriatic arthritis or Hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of the disabilities prior to February 11, 2015, or from February 11, 2015, respectively.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, chronic lumbar strain with arthritis and degenerative disc disease, left knee condition, right knee condition, left leg shin splints, and right leg shin splints due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for adjustment disorder and tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, left foot disability, and TBI. The appeals for these issues are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to a separate evaluation for left knee disability based upon locking and/or other manifestations of semilunar cartilage, as well as the claim for an extraschedular evaluation. The claims are pending due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The claim of service connection for a right knee disability is reopened and granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including for a VA audiology evaluation to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service. The back, knee, sleep apnea, and sinus issues are also being remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a special home adaptation grant as none are rated as permanent and total, nor does any cause vision impairment or inhalation injury.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis is granted a 40 percent rating, effective October 13, 2016.,Left knee patellofemoral syndrome issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's VA treatment records show current diagnoses of degenerative changes in his lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spines, as well as osteoarthritis in both knees. Further examination is needed to determine the relationship between these conditions and service.