Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and the Board finds that further development is needed to determine if his claimed disabilities are related to active service or any other relevant factors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis and associated radiculopathy, an effective date earlier than September 14, 2010 for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, and initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and pseudofolliculitis barbae were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not incurred or aggravated by her active military service. The evidence did not show an increase in disability during service and the arthritis is considered to be a natural progression of aging.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, including military hospital records and post-service Army medical records.

The Veteran's right knee disability and microscopic hematuria are granted service connection, while the hearing loss is denied a compensable rating and PTSD is denied any increase in rating.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis and post-operative residuals of arthroscopies and partial meniscectomies are rated at 20 percent since June 1, 2007. A separate noncompensable rating is assigned for the surgical scar.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right wrist, left knee, back, and bilateral ankle disabilities. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of current disability. The claims for left hand strain, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds the evidence insufficient to determine if there is additional functional loss due to flare-ups, necessitating a remand for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation of his left knee condition and service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis as secondary to the service-connected disability of left knee internal derangement with arthritis are both remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left knee condition, and an addendum opinion is required to address whether his lumbar spine spondylosis is at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder due to new evidence. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and left knee disability prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU beginning January 28, 2014.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and GERD/hiatal hernia, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions being related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee condition and acne, finding no nexus between these conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for scar tissue on the right knee is being remanded due to outstanding Social Security Administration (SSA) medical records and a need to consider a VA examination related to his right knee orthopedic disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee and back disabilities, as well as bilateral tinnitus, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of a left knee disability was denied. His claim for an increased evaluation for right knee limitation of flexion was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was denied due to the presumption of soundness being rebutted.

The Board has denied reopening of claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, thoracic spine disorder, and right knee disorder due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for the right knee disorder is remanded for further development.