Knee decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for right ankle, low back, and bilateral knee disabilities due to lack of qualifying active duty service during the claimed periods.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted in October 2012, and he is now seeking an increased rating.,For his right knee patellofemoral syndrome (post-arthroscopic repair of meniscus tear), cervical spine degenerative spondylosis with disc protrusion, residual scar, right knee, radiculopathy in the left upper extremity, and radiculopathy in the right upper extremity, he is seeking increased ratings.

The Veteran's low back disability is now rated at 40 percent effective March 3, 2010. Other claims for increased ratings and service connection are also granted.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is remanded for additional medical examination and to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left hip, right knee, and right leg conditions as well as his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee disability, higher ratings for lichen planus and right shoulder disability, and left knee disability due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, effective from the date of the decision. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence for a new examination.,A retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran’s service-connected knees prior to September 11, 2013 has been requested.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and left ankle sprain, finding no evidence of a link to military service.,Service connection was not granted due to lack of medical nexus linking the current conditions to active duty.

New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for a right ankle condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and back and right knee conditions. The Veteran's current symptoms are consistent with these diagnoses.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis / degenerative disc disease, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, and denied service connection for a cervical spine condition (claimed as neck condition).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee stiffness has been granted. The restoration of a 20 percent rating for service-connected hemorrhoids from February 1, 2014 to September 25, 2015 is also granted. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant is being remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to conflicting medical opinions and insufficient evidence. The Veteran's right knee condition is being examined again to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his left knee disability. His hearing loss and tinnitus are also being evaluated to see if they were related to in-service noise exposure.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's right knee brace, used as a prosthetic for his service-connected right knee disability, causes wear and tear to his clothing. The Board found the evidence in equipoise regarding this claim and granted an annual clothing allowance.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to his use of back and knee braces is being remanded as the rationale provided did not adequately address the Veteran's statements regarding the nature of his braces. An examination will be conducted to determine if the braces are prescribed for service-connected disabilities and whether they cause wear on his clothes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection is denied for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, bilateral pes planus, a bilateral achilles heel disorder, psoriatic arthritis with vasculitis, and a bilateral knee condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. Service connection for a left hip disability is denied.

The Veteran's ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were reduced from 10% to 0%, and the RO did not provide sufficient evidence of improvement in function under ordinary conditions. The Board finds that the reduction was improper and restores the prior ratings.