Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, knee, back, neck, and shoulder conditions due to new evidence. The issues of increased ratings for asthma, migraines, PTSD, and service connection for right knee, neck, trapezius disorder (claimed as back and neck trapezius strain and a right shoulder disorder), thoracic outlet syndrome, bilateral pes planus, metatarsalgia, and left foot tendonitis are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 3, 2009. The Board denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to inadequate VA examinations, lack of proper testing in previous examinations, and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and left knee disabilities, as well as their impact on his bowels and bladder. The rating assigned will be determined after further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA or private medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee replacement and left knee replacement, but remanded it due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted with effective dates based on when he filed his claims, not necessarily when the disabilities were first diagnosed or treated.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted service connection. The claims for acquired psychiatric disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations. The specific issues on appeal include ratings for various service-connected disabilities and a claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted service connection, and a separate 20 percent rating for his left knee disability based on moderate recurrent subluxation and lateral instability is granted. The issue of entitlement to TDIU has been remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, left wrist, and lumbar spine disabilities due to new evidence submitted since previous denials. However, it is not granted as these conditions are not found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee and upper respiratory conditions. The lower back and foot disabilities are denied as there is no medical evidence linking them to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a personality disorder and left knee disability, but has remanded the claims of PTSD and TDIU due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development due to the need for updated employment evaluations and consideration of all relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of right hip degenerative joint disease and left knee degenerative joint disease, both secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability. The evidence considered did not establish a link between these conditions and his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations. The hearing loss claim is also being remanded as the Veteran did not appear at her scheduled VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses, requiring further examination. The Veteran reported symptoms during service but no current diagnosis was found.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, right hip, and left knee disabilities due to their relationship with his service-connected right ankle arthritis. The VA will provide new examinations to assess these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board is remanding these issues to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations.,The Veteran's secondary service connection claim for migraines has also been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The Board also found that he had a current diagnosis of bilateral knee conditions, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and denied service connection for swollen bilateral ankles.,Service connection was granted for hearing loss and tinnitus due to exposure to loud noises during service. The bilateral knee conditions, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma were not found to be related to service.