Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, and a bilateral knee disability (chondromalacia patellae) as secondary to the service-connected bilateral pes planus. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and requests that additional records be obtained from various VA facilities.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for left knee strain with frequent episodes of locking and pain, effective from September 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as the TDIU claim due to service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities. Additional VA examinations are needed to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of medical records from his military service. The Veteran needs an examination to determine if he incurred these conditions during his active duty.

Service connection for a left leg disability is granted. Service connection for a right hip disability, to include as secondary to service-connected low back disability, and tinnitus (to include as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease or hypertension) are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee condition, finding no current diagnosis and noting that his symptoms are not related to any incident of service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and left ankle disability. The Board found that these disabilities are related to the Veteran's in-service parachute jumps.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability necessitates the use of a left knee brace, which causes wear and tear on his pants. The Board finds that an annual VA clothing allowance for the year 2015 is granted due to this condition.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of February 24, 2003 for the awards of service connection for degenerative joint disease, left knee patellofemoral syndrome; mild degenerative joint disease, right knee chondromalacia patella; and thoracolumbar strain.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The AOJ will need to obtain additional VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to active duty service or other periods of service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including the total knee arthroplasty with residual pain and weakness, is granted as service-connected. The issues of arthritis in all joints (excluding left shoulder and right knee), low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's initial ratings for migraine headaches, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis have been granted. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypogonadism with erectile dysfunction is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the inextricability with his pending increased rating appeal for left knee disorder. The hearing on his TDIU claim will be deferred until after the hearing on his left knee disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the claim for a compensable rating is denied.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was evaluated at 30 percent prior to July 31, 2015, and no higher. The increased rating claim from that date forward is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various wrist, ankle, and knee disabilities. However, these issues are still being remanded due to insufficient evidence in some areas.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability and a need for an examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including a medial meniscal tear, is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.