Knee decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, and left knee disability as the evidence did not establish a nexus between current disabilities and service.,There is no credible finding of arthritis in either knee within a year after separation from service, thus there is no basis to presume service connection for arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, right knee strain, left knee strain, and TDIU due to deficiencies in VA examinations and incomplete treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD service connection is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran experienced a personal assault during service, which led to her current PTSD diagnosis. For the right knee disability, the Veteran's pre-existing condition increased in severity during service and thus the issue of direct service connection will be considered.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has increased in severity since her last VA examination, and she is entitled to a new VA examination to determine the current severity of her condition.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as service connection for a bilateral knee condition. The issues regarding lung cancer and pyorrhea remain on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint and degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine, with right femoral and sciatic nerve radiculopathy status post lumbar fusion and residual scar, as well as his service-connected degenerative disc and degenerative joint disease, cervical spine, with left radiculopathy status post compression fracture C5 and cervical fusion with residual scar, have been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected right knee medial and lateral meniscal tears, anterior cruciate ligament tear, and tricompartmental osteoarthritis has also been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected right heel injury (Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis) has been granted.,The Veteran's service connection for a headache disability secondary to his now service-connected cervical spine disabilities has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease (secondary to right knee), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability (including strain and arthritis), and right knee disability. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions at the time of the decision.,Service connection was also denied for a left knee disability. The Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the left knee was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral foot and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise and grants service connection for tinnitus due to noise exposure during service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability is remanded as there are insufficient findings regarding the etiology of his current condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 19, 2013 and a 20 percent rating thereafter are denied. The Veteran's right knee strain is rated at 10 percent since May 10, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for his left and right knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for pancreatic cancer as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to inadequate development and need for a VA examination.

The Board denied extraschedular ratings for the Veteran's service-connected loss of motion of various joints associated with Reiter’s syndrome, finding that the schedular criteria adequately described his symptoms.

The Board has granted a TDIU, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, and dismissed the issue of SMC at the housebound rate. The case is remanded to obtain a new VA examination for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back and bilateral knee disabilities are related to his military service, with current disability established and a link between in-service injury and symptoms found. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims of chronic prostatitis and low back pain, and remanded the issues of increased ratings for left knee strain, chest pain, and tension headaches.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia was rated at 10 percent, as the symptoms did not meet or approximate a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, but the decision does not specify which conditions or disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder, back, and left hip disabilities that pre-existed the Veteran's military service but were aggravated by her service. The bilateral knee disability was found to have been incurred in-service.