Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for dysfunctional uterine bleeding. The cases of hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, gamekeeper's thumb, onychomycosis, right knee strain with degenerative joint disease, cervical strain with degenerative disc disease, and lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease are all remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and remanded the issues of service connection for residuals of a right wrist ganglion cyst removal surgery, an initial disability rating for a left knee disability in excess of 10 percent, and an initial disability rating for a left testicle hydrocele with epididymitis in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to incomplete records and need for further medical examination.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral knee condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including those related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, were denied as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and his military service.,Specifically, the Board found that none of the claimed conditions are linked to the Veteran’s active duty or to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The request to reopen the finally disallowed claims of service connection for hypertension and PFS of the right knee, as well as for psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, to include the elbows, hands, feet, right knee, and fingers, are all granted. However, the claim for an increased rating for PFS of the left knee with Baker's cyst is denied.

Your claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's tension headaches are found to be related to his service-connected tinnitus and anxiety disorders.,The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder with panic disorder and major depressive disorder is found to be related to his service-connected tinnitus, left ankle injury, and anxiety disorders.

The Veteran's mild degenerative disc disease at L2-L3 and L3-L4 levels is granted as service-connected.,His left knee condition, right knee condition, and bilateral foot condition are denied as not related to his service.,His depression is granted as service-connected.,His sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.,His headaches are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's tinea pedis (bilateral feet) and PFB (previously rated noncompensable) are granted with a 30% rating effective June 25, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding service connection for left knee arthritis.,His initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the case is returned to the Board for further consideration.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders are reopened, and he is granted a TDIU effective August 22, 2016. His lumbar spine disability remains rated at 40%.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, hypertension, and a left knee disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is denied as there is no link between his current condition and his military service. His hypertension claim is also denied because it was not shown in service or within one year post-service. For the left knee disability, the Board found that recent medical opinion was inadequate and remanded for an updated VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has restored the Veteran's ratings for post-operative residuals of the right knee and chondromalacia of the left knee to their previous levels, effective January 1, 2013.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for a scar associated with right knee degenerative joint disease was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating under the applicable VA disability evaluation criteria. The service connection claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and remanded the issues of bilateral knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left knee condition due to new and material evidence. However, the case is remanded as additional development is required.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability and granted it, finding that his pre-existing condition worsened during basic training due to marching and running.

The Veteran's left hip and right knee conditions are granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee condition. A rating of 30 percent for limited extension of the left knee prior to May 7, 2014 is granted.

The Board has remanded two claims for additional development: one regarding a lower back disability and the other regarding squamous cell carcinoma located on the left side of the nose. The decision on whether service connection is warranted remains pending.