Knee decisions — 2018

The claim of service connection for a right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and confirmation of Southwest Asia service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and requesting SSA disability benefits application documents. A new VA examination is also required.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for right shoulder strain, right knee musculoligamentous strain with limited extension, and right ankle sprain from April 16, 2015 has been denied.,A uniform 10 percent rating is appropriate for the entire appeal period.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for left knee disability, left shin splint disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (secondary to a claimed left knee disability). The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 19, 2013 for service connection of right hip bursitis, lumbar strain disability, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and tinnitus have been denied as there is no legal entitlement to an earlier effective date.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are remanded to obtain VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The appeal for service connection of a cervical spine disorder is dismissed.,Service connection granted for GERD and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is rated at 60 percent from September 1, 2011. The Board has granted a rating in excess of the current assigned rating for his left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded both issues related to the Veteran's knees due to inadequate examination findings and the passage of time since previous examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability, needs further review and is therefore remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The left knee disability claim is remanded due to lack of VA treatment records and incomplete medical history.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hip and knee disabilities, as well as his TDIU claim prior to June 16, 2015.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, arthritis of the right hand, right knee, and right shoulder, and a skin disorder of the extremities was granted. Service connection is established for these conditions due to exposure to herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board denied all increased rating claims for the Veteran's service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation for any of the disabilities.

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

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for service connection and rating for various disabilities. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being examined again due to the lack of recent VA treatment records and inadequate examination in 2011. A new peripheral vestibular disorder (vertigo) claim is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and for increased ratings for left knee disorders, as well as an adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs to provide information about his medical history since separation from service.

The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of service connection for bilateral knee disability because no VA examiner has provided an opinion regarding its relation to in-service events. The Veteran's right lumbar radiculopathy was granted, but imaging shows severe osteoarthritis of the right knee joint.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for bilateral medial compartment degenerative changes of the knees from July 1, 2012 to October 17, 2017.