Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was reduced from 20% to noncompensable effective July 31, 2013.,The Veteran's disability rating for right knee medial collateral ligament tear with instability was reduced from 10% to noncompensable effective July 31, 2013.,The Veteran's disability rating for PTSD was reduced from 50% disabling to 30% disabling effective August 7, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for skin cancer was reopened due to new evidence submitted.,For the low back disability, a rating greater than 10 percent is denied prior to May 3, 2017 and a remand is ordered for further evaluation after that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if her current left and right knee disabilities are related to service. The maximum schedular rating of 50% for total abdominal hysterectomy has been denied.

The Veteran is granted TDIU for the periods prior to June 7, 2010, from August 1, 2012 to August 30, 2016, and from October 1, 2017. The claim for TDIU during the period from June 7, 2010 to July 31, 2012 is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current left knee disability, visual impairment of bilateral eyes, and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a left arm disability is granted. The claims for service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling for the period since December 10, 2016. The Board has remanded to obtain a new VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

Service connection for depression is granted. The claims for higher initial disability ratings for right ankle and left knee disabilities, as well as the claim for an earlier effective date for left knee scar, are dismissed. Service connection for a right knee disability and a left ankle disability is remanded. The claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied. The claim for an increased rating for sinusitis is denied.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the knees, ankles, and hands as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's ear, shoulder, hip, knee, and neurological disabilities. The VA examiner did not consider the effects of constant deep sea diving during service on these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities. The case is now REMANDED for additional examinations and opinions regarding various other issues, including service connection for right hand/wrist, bilateral ankle, hip, and shoulder disabilities; initial ratings for knee and lumbar spine disabilities; and a TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip arthritis and bilateral knee disabilities, but has remanded the cases of left foot disability, carpal tunnel syndrome, Graves' disease, and lumbar spine disability. The rating for right femur and hip disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's initial requests for increased ratings for his left and right knee chondromalacia were denied. Separate 30 percent ratings are granted for the Veteran’s left and right knee chondromalacia from November 30, 2009 and continuing thereafter.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, but denied his request to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral knee condition.

The Board has denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and a left knee condition, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder claim is remanded as it requires further examination to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he meets the schedular rating requirements for assignment of a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board also found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and low back disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The claims for lumbar spine and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.