Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder but denied the claim as there is no evidence of permanent aggravation during service and the left knee disorder is not related to service.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disorder being aggravated by service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.,There is insufficient evidence to establish that the left knee disorder was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted service connection, with the effective date being determined based on the reopening of his claim.,An increased rating for reactive airway disease is pending as new evidence has not been provided to warrant a change in the current zero percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for extension of a temporary total evaluation, rating in excess of 60 percent for right knee disability, and service connection for a right hip disability. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's chondromalacia of the left knee from June 11, 2007 is not manifested by limitation of flexion to 15 degrees or less. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in the examination reports and because it is unclear whether the examinations sufficiently reflect the current severity of his service-connected left knee and right ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examination to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss but denied for a bilateral knee disability, as the Veteran's knee condition was not incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and providing an adequate VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection of bilateral knee strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and completing a VA Form 21-8940. The case will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the schedular criteria for TDIU since February 8, 2016. The Board has referred the case to the Under Secretary for Benefits or Director of Compensation and Pension Service for an extra-schedular evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee injury, sleep apnea, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and thyroid disorder were not incurred in or related to his active service.

The case is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability and its functional limitations.

The Veteran's back disability was granted service connection, but his bilateral knee disability and right shoulder impingement with rotator cuff tear were denied. The case is remanded for additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that it is not secondary to his service-connected right knee, right hip, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 20 percent from June 1, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating and denied his claim for an increased rating. He also failed to meet the criteria for TDIU prior to June 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including adjudicating the issue of service connection for a right knee disorder and readjudicating the claim for TDIU. The Veteran's appeal is currently in remand status.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including VA examinations and a medical opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities and any acquired psychiatric disability.