Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected bilateral pleural plaques. The claims for lumbar spine and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a left knee disability and common variable immune deficiency. However, additional development is needed as new VA examinations are required to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis, arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete examinations and lack of consideration of relevant medical history.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not show an increase in disability or a new claim within one year of the initial rating decisions.,The Veteran was granted service connection for his conditions, but the effective dates assigned are based on when he filed his original claims.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his permanent and total disability status. A new examination is needed to assess these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. However, the Board has determined that sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and right knee disability were not incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU and it is unlikely that he can secure and follow substantial gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities. The appeal regarding higher ratings for gout, low back disability, right knee disability, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and urinary frequency are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the left knee disability, specifically addressing whether it is related to service or aggravated by a service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and right knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to reported worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a link to service.,The Veteran's right and left knee replacements are remanded due to the absence of continuity of symptomatology from service and lack of explanation regarding claimed in-service injuries.,The Veteran's hypertension, chronic renal disease, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia are remanded as they may be related to his multiple myeloma. The claims for these conditions will be deferred pending further development.,The Veteran's multiple myeloma is remanded due to the absence of a dose estimate from VA’s Under Secretary for Health regarding ionizing radiation exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for further investigation into the Veteran's service connection claim.

The Veteran's PTSD, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and left knee disorder are being remanded for further evaluation. The initial rating for PTSD is granted at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches was granted. The initial compensable rating claim for left ear hearing loss was denied. The issue of service connection for a left knee disability is dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The issues of service connection for right ankle strain and low back disability are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his knee and back disabilities, as well as a vocational counselor opinion regarding his TDIU claim. The claims will be reconsidered after these examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was denied. The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 1, 2011 to February 3, 2013 was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for costochondritis, right hip disorder, and right knee disorder were denied. The claim for aggravation of pre-existing pes planus was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and bilateral knee disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee degenerative arthritis with shin splints have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

Service connection is granted for right knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome. Service connection is remanded for sinusitis and headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 28, 2011 for a 60% disability rating for his service-connected left knee disability. The evidence did not show that the Veteran met or nearly approximated the criteria for a 60% rating for his left knee disability with scar before February 28, 2011.