Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for left knee and left ankle disabilities, as well as the TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities. Additional medical examinations are needed to assess current disability levels.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support the claim of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, as it was not incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for lower and upper back disabilities, as well as a left knee disability. Service connection was denied for sinusitis.,An initial compensable rating is requested for allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions, finding no new and material evidence to reopen them.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened and granted. The claims for increased ratings, hearing loss, heart condition, and knee/heel disabilities are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and low back disabilities, but has remanded them for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right arm disability, left knee disability, skin disabilities of the hands and feet are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, sleep apnea, headaches, neck pain, lower back condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition due to a lack of VA examinations and opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle strain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), right knee degenerative joint disease (DJD), and left knee DJD. The VA will conduct further examinations and obtain additional records before deciding these cases.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for an examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disability. The examiner must determine if the Veteran's current knee disability is related to his active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, hepatitis C, bilateral hearing loss, and prostate condition as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and needs further examination for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis, as well as clarification on an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for neutropenia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including GAD, PTSD, depression), bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis have been reopened. The new evidence supports the claim that his current psychiatric disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee condition has been restored to a 10% rating due to the lack of objective improvement in functional impairment and symptomatology.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee strain and right knee strain. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for another VA examination due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's in-service motor vehicle accident and post-service symptoms.

The Veteran's left knee, right knee, and right elbow disabilities are granted service connection. The Veteran's OSA is also granted service connection. However, the Veteran's bruxism claim remains pending as it lacks a nexus opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Buerger's disease and left below the knee amputation, have impacted his ability to work physically. However, he is able to perform sedentary work due to other conditions such as testicular pain and painful scars. The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU prior to September 17, 2015.

The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded due to the lack of STRs and the need for further medical examinations.