Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as cervical spine degenerative disc disease. The issues of service connection for a left shoulder disability (secondary to cervical spine disability), low back disability, and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for a service-connected left ankle disability are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The increased rating claims for the right knee injury with patellofemoral pain syndrome were remanded.

The Veteran's upper respiratory infections are found to be related to service.,Bilateral hearing loss is not considered disabling enough for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis, which is found to be caused by his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee and sacroiliac conditions are related to her service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability and left knee/leg disability, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions began during or were related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for malignant melanoma, cataracts, and a knee disability due to exposure to residual radiation from nuclear testing in Eniwetok Atoll. The appellant needs to provide additional information regarding his exposure.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus since August 3, 2013 is denied. The issue of an initial rating for TBI residuals and a separate rating from PTSD for TBI residuals after August 19, 2015 is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, right knee, left elbow, and right elbow disabilities. The Veteran's assertions of in-service injury or aggravation are not supported by medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient consideration of all relevant in-service treatment records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent and no higher, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection has been granted for major depressive disorder secondary to service-connected PTSD.,Joint pain (bilateral knee osteoarthritis), neck disorder (cervical spine arthritis), and back disorder (lumbar spine arthritis) have not met the criteria for service connection as they are not shown to be related to service or within one year of separation from service.,Left ankle disorder, vision disorder (refractive error of the eye), bilateral hearing loss, shortness of breath, and sleep disorder have not been established as service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Heart disorder has not met the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, low back disorder, right ankle disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The case is remanded for additional examinations and development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities do not meet the criteria for service connection on a direct basis due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability as the evidence did not show they were incurred in or related to service.,The Board also denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disability (left and right ankles) and for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the knees, back, shoulders, and hips as there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder as the preexisting condition was not aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral knee disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability was denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis, impairment of the tibia or fibula, flexion limited to 30 degrees, extension limited to 15 degrees, dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint, or instability. The Veteran's disability was rated as 10 percent due to painful motion.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate examination findings and the need for additional opinions regarding range of motion, flare-ups, and functional impairment.