Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right knee disorder, bone spurs of the feet (right), bronchitis, strep throat, and heart disorder are all denied. However, the Veteran is granted service connection for a current right ear hearing loss disability with a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent since February 1, 2016. The Board has remanded this issue for further development.,The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has also remanded this issue for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to difficulties in scheduling VA examinations because of his incarceration. The issues include arthritis, hearing loss, COPD, hypertension, renal failure, lymphocytic lymphoma, and thrombocytopenia.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, which prevent him from performing his previous work as an instrumentation technician.

The Veteran's service-connected epididymitis with left varicocele is granted a 10 percent rating, effective from the date of this decision. The initial compensable ratings for left knee iliotibial band syndrome and right knee patellar tendonitis are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of back, left hip, and bilateral knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and low back disabilities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service. The claims were reopened due to new evidence showing current diagnoses of arthritis in both knees and degenerative changes in the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disability and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records, including missing service treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and schedule VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is being remanded for low back and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examination and for obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for bilateral tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the issues of low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and polyneuropathies of fingertips are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and initial evaluations are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, left knee disability, and sleep disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's sinusitis claim is also remanded as the last VA examination was conducted in May 2012.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for low back disability is granted. The case is remanded for further development regarding the right knee disability.

The Veteran's left tendon tear was granted service connection, while the claims for bilateral shin splints, frostbite on hands and feet, bilateral knee disorder, and low back disorder were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and glaucoma, finding that both conditions are related to service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right hip, left knee, and left foot disabilities. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are consistent with his reported symptoms during service and a continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board found that the termination of the TDIU rating from February 1, 2004 was proper due to the Veteran's actual employability at that time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for residuals of multiple strokes, pelvic inflammatory disease, or asthma. Service connection is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between her service and these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and his right knee residuals of ACL and meniscal surgeries with DJD are also rated at 10 percent. The Veteran was granted a separate 20 percent rating for his right knee limitation of extension as of November 24, 2015. He is not entitled to TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.