Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disability, arthritis of the right knee, bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, back condition, and peripheral neuropathy, have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of the record.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient medical opinions and a need for additional examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease and patellofemoral joint pain syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was reopened due to the submission of new medical evidence. The claims for cervical spine condition, circulatory problems, and right knee disorder were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to an unresolved issue regarding whether there is new and material evidence to reopen claims of service connection for left knee disorder, low back disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder. The cases will be returned to the RO for further consideration.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this issue for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for service connection and increased ratings. The issues include PTSD, jaw disability, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral vestibular disorder, kidney stones, and persistent depressive disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional records and a supplemental examination. The Veteran's right knee disability is still under consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee, right knee, and right Achilles tendonitis disabilities. The claim for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is remanded due to a failure of the RO to readjudicate it after requested development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, undiagnosed illness resulting in numbness of arms, fatigue, headaches, sleeping difficulties, joint and muscle pain, low back disorder, and right knee disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right hip disorder, and right knee disorder due to insufficient evidence. Specifically, a VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or his left hip disability.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for his knee and back braces is being remanded due to the lack of recent VA treatment records. The Board will seek additional information about the type of braces provided by VA or private providers.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection of a left knee disorder is granted. The remanded issue of determining whether service connection should be established due to new evidence is pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis and instability due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran will need updated VA examinations to assess his current disability levels.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent, with separate ratings for limitation of extension and instability. The right ankle disability is rated at 10 percent. TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

Service connection is granted for chondromalacia patella of the left knee, with osteoarthritis and chondromalacia patella of the right knee.,Service connection is denied for chest pain and difficulty breathing as they are related to service-connected asthma.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disability and migraine headaches due to a lack of evidence of current disabilities. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including patellofemoral chondromalacia, was not shown to result in ankylosis or other severe impairment prior to November 2, 2017. From that date onwards, a separate compensable rating of 20 percent for the meniscal condition is granted. Ratings in excess of those assigned for his right knee disability have not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities affect his ability to walk without the aid of assistive devices, and he is requesting assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant. The Board has remanded the case for further examination and clarification.