Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The reductions of the disability evaluations for instability of left knee and residuals, status post medial meniscus repair, left knee were granted.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral knee disability due to new and material evidence received since the September 2005 rating decision. The case is remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's currently diagnosed knee disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to accrued benefits, including service connection and rating for various conditions. The appellant is being asked to provide additional information regarding private treatment records and a VA addendum opinion on the cause of death.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increased rating for his degenerative joint disease of the right knee.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service.,Multiple issues regarding hip, knee, and ankle disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his limited mobility, inability to perform daily activities independently, and the hazards inherent in his environment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to inadequate examinations, incomplete evidence, and inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran is required to provide medical records and undergo new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and rating determinations due to pending matters regarding his character of discharge from active duty.

The Board denied service connection for central disk herniation at L4-L5, bilateral knee condition, and bilateral foot condition (other than residuals of cold injury to feet) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.,Entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was dismissed due to already granted service connection.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, bilateral knee, and bilateral hand disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and completing VA Form 21-4142s. The issues of increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities and entitlement to TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions including PTSD, MDD, a left knee condition, respiratory issues, and a skin condition. The cases are being returned to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence.

The application to reopen a claim for rheumatoid arthritis is denied. The claim for joint pain as an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness and the claim for chronic fatigue syndrome are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete development of records.

The decision grants restoration of a rating for right knee tenosynovitis with limitation of extension and degenerative arthritis, but the reduction from 30 percent to noncompensable was not proper. The claims for service connection for low back disability, left knee disability, and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's left knee condition was rated based on the limitation of flexion. The evidence does not show that his range of motion in his left knee was limited to 60 degrees or less prior to October 6, 2010.,For the period from December 1, 2011 to September 15, 2015, the Veteran is in receipt of the highest schedular rating for any disability of the left knee or leg in the absence of an amputation. The evidence does not show that his spine was ankylosed or he had Intervertebral Disc Syndrome (IVDS).

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his right knee instability and medial meniscus tear claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current lower back and left knee disabilities are related to his service. The RO must provide a new VA examination to determine if these conditions exist, and if so, whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's asthma was rated at 10 percent prior to January 10, 2014 and now at 30 percent effective from that date. The Veteran’s patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee is being remanded for further examination.,A TDIU rating is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the increased rating claim for the right knee.