Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder has been granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of increased ratings for his left knee, lumbar spine disability, and instability/limitation of flexion of the left knee.

The Veteran's left knee and left shoulder disabilities have been rated at 10% since the applicable rating periods. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral excisions of gynecomastia resulted in a 10% rating. The issue of service connection for his left knee disability was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his in-service injury and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shin splints and the earlier effective date claim for right knee degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's shin splints resolved without residual effects, and there was no evidence of a current disability to support service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee strain with non-inflammatory synovitis, status post arthroscopic knee surgery, is due to a right knee injury sustained during service and subsequent arthroscopic surgery. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether this condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,For the period prior to November 9, 2016, his sinusitis was not compensably rated. For the period after November 9, 2016, a 30 percent rating is granted for sinusitis.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition and related scar are remanded due to lack of STRs and need for an examination to determine etiology.,The Veteran's back condition is remanded as VA needs to provide an opinion on the likely etiology of his current diagnosed back disability, including consideration of in-service duties.,The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and need for addendum opinions.,The Veteran's flat feet are remanded because a VA examiner has not addressed whether preexisting flat feet were aggravated by service.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is remanded as the threshold for disability was not met in his previous examination. The issues of right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss are inextricably intertwined.,The Veteran's right hand middle finger laceration residuals are remanded due to potential missing records from hospitalization during service.,The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is remanded as the Veteran asserts an increase in severity since his last VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, right knee osteoarthritis (OA), bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and depression. The Veteran's current disabilities were not shown to have been incurred during or aggravated by active duty service.,An effective date earlier than August 30, 2013, for the award of service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased rating for right knee disability, service connection for left knee disability, service connection for right hip disability, service connection for left hip disability, service connection for back disability, and service connection for neck disability due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board denied service connection for shoulder, back, bilateral knee, and right ankle disabilities as there were no current diagnoses of these conditions at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, left knee PFPS, and nephrolithiasis require further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The claims are being remanded for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for a back brace and right knee brace in 2014 were denied because the applications were not filed within one year of the anniversary date, as required by VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee condition, right knee condition, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of current diagnoses and possible functional impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity sciatica, but the claims for left and right knee disabilities are remanded due to missing records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg disability has been reopened and granted. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities, including fibromyalgia, chronic back strain, irritable bowel syndrome, and other conditions that make it impossible for her to maintain employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has decided to remand several issues related to his knee disabilities, low back disability, thigh disability (characterized by pain), hip disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The appeal is being remanded due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his claim for an initial compensable disability rating for status-post right elbow contusion. The Board also finds that additional VA examinations are needed for the Veteran's claims regarding service connection for right knee condition, lower back condition, right hip disability, and bilateral hearing loss.

The claim is being remanded due to the misfiled VA examination report from a different veteran, which affected the previous rating decision and SOC. The claim will be re-evaluated without relying on this document.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder and low back disorders are granted. The claim for bilateral knee disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee conditions, asthma, bowel and bladder incontinence, and sexual dysfunction due to lack of a diagnosis related to these conditions and insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records and undergo VA examinations.