Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The issues of service connection for PTSD, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, a scar residual of an erroneous vaccination, and residuals of a concussion are on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of outstanding records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and severity of his right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 14, 2010 for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The initial rating of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss after October 9, 2014 has also been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his left hip and right knee conditions has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination for the left hip condition.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations and opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's ankle, hip, knee, and shoulder conditions. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, DJD of the right knee, DJD of the left knee, DJD of the right hip, DJD of the left hip, and DDD of the lumbar spine as secondary to a service-connected wound of the right foot/muscle group X.,The Board has granted service connection for these disabilities based on evidence in relative equipoise.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities and whether there is instability or recurrent subluxation.

The Veteran's left knee cartilage condition is rated at 20 percent, and a painful scar on the left knee is rated at 10 percent. The case is also remanded to determine if the Veteran is eligible for TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right shoulder disability has been denied. His left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have each been granted increased ratings of 20 percent, effective May 4, 2010.,The Veteran is still employed but reports that his knees limit him to part-time work due to their condition.

The Veteran's back condition is connected to service and the Board has granted service connection for it. The case regarding the left knee condition and radiculopathy secondary to a back condition is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service, including post-service treatment records showing no diagnosed disability.,Service connection for left knee disability is also denied as there are no in-service complaints or diagnoses and no continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right hip disorder and granted a 50% disability rating effective March 29, 2010. The reduction from 50% to 20% was not proper as there was no evidence of sustained improvement in the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board finds that the medical evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's DJD of the left knee is related to his service-connected residuals of a left tibia fracture. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's right knee genu varum deformity and traumatic arthritis are currently rated at 30 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The Board found no basis to grant higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's use of VA-issued forearm crutches for the year 2014 is sufficient to warrant a clothing allowance due to their consistent wear and tear on his clothing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including arteriosclerotic heart disease and multiple other conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee joint osteoarthritis and lumbosacral strain, finding that these conditions are related to her active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hiatal hernia with GERD was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The left knee post-traumatic patella femoral pain syndrome has been rated at 10 percent since December 31, 2007.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has not been established. The Veteran does not have current hearing loss disability as defined by VA standards.,Service connection for tinnitus has also not been established. The VA examiner found that the onset of symptoms was post-service and related to occupational noise exposure.