Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current severity of his left knee disabilities and service-connected IBS. The tinnitus claim has been denied as there is no legal basis for a schedular rating greater than 10 percent.

The Veteran's hepatitis is granted service connection. The left knee instability rating is restored to 20 percent, and the limitation of flexion remains at 10 percent.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed left ear hearing loss or sciatic nerve disability for VA purposes, and therefore denied service connection for these conditions. The Board also found insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's bilateral leg and knee disabilities were aggravated by his time in service.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis with narrowing of the medial compartment is rated at 10 percent, and a separate 20 percent rating for the meniscal tear is granted since July 27, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including gathering information about his employment history and considering any periods of marginal employment.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition and remanded the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus. The case is now being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner did not address whether direct service connection is warranted based on diagnoses of patellofemoral syndrome in service and post-service pain and surgery. The Veteran's left knee disability may be caused or aggravated by his service-connected right patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck, shoulder, right-hand, knee, foot, and ankle disabilities are not properly adjudicated due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA examiners. The Board therefore remands these issues for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating due to lack of VA treatment records, need for a new examination, and issues with functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his knee conditions due to inadequate examination findings and need for additional information.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a left knee disorder. The case is remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's appeals for left ankle, left foot, and frostbite residuals of the bilateral feet conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded cases involving back condition, left knee condition, right ankle condition, and right foot condition (claimed as degenerative joint disease).

The Board has granted a 50% disability rating for bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claimed left ankle, right ankle, left hip, right knee, and low back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further evidentiary development, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting an opinion on the Veteran's knee and hip disabilities from an appropriate medical professional.

The Board denied service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and denied an increased rating for migraine headaches. The Veteran's left knee condition was not found to be related to her military service, and the Board determined that the evidence did not show severe economic inadaptability due to migraines.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. Restoration of a 10 percent disability rating for surgical scar residuals of a bilateral inguinal hernia, effective May 1, 2015, is also granted.,Issues regarding generalized arthritis, right knee disability, left leg stress fracture, erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD), and skin disability are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a compression fracture of the C4 and 5 vertebrae by history, right knee injury, and laceration scar of the forehead due to failure to show aggravation during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his knee conditions due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, worsening of his right knee condition requiring further examination, and need for Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are unavailable and remands the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination.