Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded this claim for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and affording the Veteran a new VA examination to assess his left knee disability. The Veteran's service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee will be evaluated based on its current severity.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee instability, as well as bilateral plantar fasciitis. The effective dates are set at October 18, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee osteoarthritis did not meet the criteria for a higher rating through November 2, 2015. However, beginning January 1, 2017, when he had a total knee replacement, his disability warranted a separate 10 percent rating for other knee impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and medical opinions regarding his left knee disability, PTSD, and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran also needs to provide any outstanding Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to evaluate the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities, including range of motion testing on active and passive motion in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted. The claims for increased ratings for right and left knees are pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service. The bilateral hip and knee disabilities are not directly related to service, but may have been aggravated by the service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected disabilities and for proper rating determinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a VA examination and review of the Veteran's medical records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his right knee disability, which he claims was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and disability related to grinding of teeth were all found to be incurred in active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his left knee and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorder is related to his periods of active and inactive duty for training (ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA) in the Reserves, which caused falls and injuries resulting in his current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, anxiety disorder, and diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's left knee disability is presumed to have been incurred in service due to a diagnosed condition during active duty. His anxiety disorder is related to his military service, specifically exposure to traumatic events. Diabetes mellitus is found to be at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's reported exposure to Malathion insecticide while serving as an air policeman.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of right knee disability and right knee scar have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The claim for a compensable rating for residuals of an umbilical hernia repair is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including CLL, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, hypertension, headaches, GERD, lumbar spine disorder, shoulder disorders, hip disorders, leg disorders, and a psychiatric disorder are denied. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not established as prior to January 23, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis, which developed after a service-connected injury in 1959, is found to be related to his military service and granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to his service-connected knee disabilities was denied as the Under Secretary for Health did not certify that the prescribed knee braces tend to wear or tear clothing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability. The issues on appeal are a higher rating for left total knee replacement and entitlement to a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence.