Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his right testicular disorder was denied. The Board found no factual basis for an increased rating as there is no lay or medical evidence of atrophy of both testes that would justify such a rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple knee and back conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service treatment for a left knee disorder and low back disorder. The Veteran's claims are linked as they both stem from his left knee condition.

The Board has remanded several claims, including reopening of service connection for various disabilities and increased evaluations. The Veteran's VA treatment records have been submitted but need to be reviewed by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and/or private treatment records related to his service-connected left knee and left ankle disabilities, and scheduling him for an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development and clarification, including service connection claims for irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss disability, degenerative arthritis of the knees, and hypertensive renal disease. The Veteran's claims are pending due to incomplete VA records and lack of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's use of a right knee brace for his service-connected degenerative changes of the right knee caused wear and tear on his clothing, warranting an annual clothing allowance for 2014.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist fracture and remanded the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition as it did not meet the criteria, finding that there is no direct nexus to service and that any current right knee disability is less likely related to service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in service and may not presume to have been incurred in service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's DJD of the left knee and right knee, as well as his right peroneal palsy with symptomatic foot drop, are all granted service connection. The Board found that these conditions were related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee and left hip disabilities were denied as there was no evidence showing that the conditions warranted a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it began during active service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obesity is denied as obesity is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for left knee disorder, nose disorder (broken nose residuals), and heart disorder were granted. The appeal is granted on these issues.,PTSD claim was dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability aggravated his service-connected right foot disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability and right shoulder disability. The claims are now remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The effective date is set at October 20, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support such determinations.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for limitation of flexion in both knees from September 29, 2010 to February 8, 2018.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including low back strain and hypertension. The claims are remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.