Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being returned to the AOJ for further development due to inadequate examination in a previous remand. The case will be reviewed after obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the initial compensable rating for hypertension prior to February 19, 2011; and to a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's sinusitis and right knee disabilities were not granted any increased ratings as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's cardiopulmonary arrest was caused or contributed substantially or materially to his death. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disabilities and determine if he is entitled to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder requires additional development and remands the case back to the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate May 2010 VA examination and a need for a new examination to assess the Veteran's right knee condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a current diagnosis of a tear of the anterior supraspinatus and conjoined tendon. The left knee disability issue is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's request for an increased rating for his left knee disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeals for increased ratings of somatic symptom disorder, nasal disfigurement, deviated septum, left leg sciatica, and right leg sciatica. The claims for increased ratings for a back disability and bilateral knee osteoarthritis are REMANDED for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be service-connected. The right knee and wrist disabilities are remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's current left thigh and knee conditions are related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to procedural defects, specifically the failure to issue a statement of the case for his claims of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, left knee disability, confusion, lack of concentration and depression (claimed as Gulf War illness), and chronic fatigue syndrome (claimed as Gulf War illness).

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating for moderate instability. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity and symptoms of his condition.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations and consideration of her claims for increased disability ratings and service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral athlete's foot, prostate cancer, PTSD, left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back disability are all service-connected. The diabetes mellitus claim is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right elbow degenerative joint disease, as well as left and right knee degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's reported military trauma is considered in determining the etiology of these conditions.,Service connection was also granted for macular degeneration of the left eye, but additional medical records are needed to determine its relationship with service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities were aggravated by service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.