Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective August 1, 2008, the date he first received service connection for his disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and lumbar disk bulging and facet degeneration of L4-5, as well as service connection for schizophrenia and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The cases of lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot numbness, and bilateral foot strain are remanded for further development.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the 10 percent evaluation for service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease and remanded the issue of service connection for a back condition.

The Veteran's pes planus with fasciitis and right total knee replacement with scar are rated at 30% and 60%, respectively. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, granting entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient examination reports and the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it may be significantly impacted by the outcome of the increased rating issue.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for service connection, including for DJD of various joints and related disabilities such as hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, and tinnitus. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, including assessing functional limitations caused by pain and associated symptoms during flare-ups. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded three issues: right knee disability, low back disability, and the ratings for left knee disability. The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is found to be aggravated by his right knee and low back disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the case to obtain additional medical opinions. The claim of service connection for headaches is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee degenerative joint disease, finding that the conditions had their onset in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a 10% evaluation effective July 11, 1996.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hyposmia was denied in 2005, and new evidence received after that time does not meet the threshold to reopen the claim.,Service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome is denied as there is no medical evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hip condition, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, lumbar strain, and bilateral plantar fascitis. The issues have been referred back to the VA for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee chondromalacia and right knee patellofemoral ligament strain were denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral knee disorders, right ear hearing loss, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The conditions are deemed to have originated during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, secondary to residuals of septo-rhinoplasty, was also reopened and granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after a supplemental statement of the case was issued. The Veteran's appeal will be returned to the AOJ for consideration of this additional evidence.