Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a right knee meniscus tear was granted. The Board also found that the Veteran's hypertension, which has required continuous medication, does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of his left ankle and right knee disabilities has been dismissed.,An initial rating higher than 10 percent prior to August 9, 2016 for the Veteran’s left ankle disability is denied. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU based on his service-connected left ankle and right knee disabilities is remanded.

The Veteran's GERD is granted with a 30 percent rating for the entire period on appeal. The RO has remanded cases regarding increased ratings for his left and right knee DJD, as well as traumatic arthritis of both ankles.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased ratings for various knee and ankle disabilities, a compensable rating for bilateral pes planus, and an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for hypothyroidism. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development including VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an extraschedular rating for his left knee disorder based on difficulty sleeping and a TDIU. The case is being remanded to allow for further consideration of these issues.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded several issues including service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and a Supplemental Statement of the Case needs to be issued.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee disability and hearing loss/tinnitus. The Veteran needs a VA examination for these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and knee disabilities, as well as a left shoulder disability due to lack of consideration of his lay statements regarding in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disability, but the Veteran's right knee disability is not found to have been aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a right elbow disability due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran needs new VA examinations to determine the current level of severity of her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran is granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an additional left knee/foot disability due to a total left knee replacement performed at a VA facility in February 2009, as the Board finds that this additional disability was not reasonably foreseeable and no fault on part of VA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, traumatic brain injury residuals, left knee, and right knee disabilities are denied. The claim for service connection for a back disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and evaluations of the Veteran's right knee disorder, left knee DJD, and left knee instability due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and right knee disorders, finding that the evidence supports a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, as he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chondromalacia, left knee, and chondromalacia, right knee are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, DJD and knee conditions, make it impossible for him to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU based on the combined effects of his disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, right ankle, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and residuals of testicular cancer. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis or history of these conditions during his appeal period.,Additionally, the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for status post right radical orchiectomy associated with residuals of testicular cancer was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and back disability due to insufficient rationale in previous VA examination opinions. The Veteran must be scheduled for new examinations to address his assertions of in-service pain.