Knee decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders as secondary to his service-connected foot disabilities due to a lack of diagnosed disability in either knee, and no functional impairment of earning capacity.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial ratings are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that has not yet been considered by the AOJ.

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings and increased ratings for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's right knee condition, including after his partial meniscectomy and total knee replacement, is rated at 20 percent from July 1, 2014 to February 10, 2016. From April 1, 2017, the Veteran has a minimum rating of 30 percent for his right knee condition following total knee replacement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and right lower extremity radiculopathy, preclude all substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him. The Board grants entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The claims are now remanded for further development.,Further development is required to verify the Veteran’s periods of active duty, active duty for training, and inactive duty for training, as well as to obtain any outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, but denied service connection for tinnitus and back disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for missing VA treatment records and additional National Guard service records. The claims will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral foot condition due to insufficient evidence in some cases. The Veteran will need additional VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's depressive disorder, combined with other service-connected disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. Effective November 6, 2012, the Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's above-the-knee amputation of the right leg is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent, but he does not have at least one disability rated at 40 percent or more. The Board has referred his TDIU claim to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration due to his service-connected knee disabilities, tinnitus, and depression.

The Veteran's hypertension was shown in service and has been treated post-service. Service connection is granted.,The bilateral knee disorder (arthritis status-post total knee replacements) is proximately due to his service-connected left ankle disability. Service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling him for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, left knee, right knee, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and left ankle conditions. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right and left knee chondromalacia as she needs a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right wrist disorder, back disorder, neck disorder, left knee strain, and right knee disorder are all denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Veteran reported an onset during active duty and the VA examiner opined that excessive noise exposure may have been a precursor to tinnitus at that time.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tendonobursitis and arthritis of the right knee, as well as instability of the right knee, are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. A new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of these conditions during flare-ups.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including a right knee cap disability, left big toe fracture, bullet fragments in the buttocks, left eye disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, allergies, heart disability, partial removal of sphincter muscle, sterility, and PTSD as there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including atrophy of left thigh muscles, cervical spine disorder, right and left knee patellar strains, right ankle disorder, left foot disorder, right great toe hallux valgus and hallux rigidus, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and diabetes mellitus. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and service.