Knee decisions — 2018

The Board is remanding the reduction in disability evaluations for various knee conditions due to a lack of complete SSA records, which may affect the decision on whether there was actual improvement.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his active service or any incidents therein.

The Board has granted service connection for heart palpitations, but the other issues related to left knee and CFS are remanded due to lack of VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection and all rating claims, including TDIU, for the claimed conditions. The Veteran's diabetes is not related to his military service. His acquired mental disorder, left knee disorder, heart disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right middle finger disorder are also not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition was reopened, but the Board found that there is insufficient evidence to determine if his left knee pain is related to his right knee arthritis. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and right eye disorder due to new evidence received since the final denial of these claims. The claims for right knee disability and left knee disability are also remanded for additional development.,The Veteran’s current right and left knee disabilities may be related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, but further examination is needed to determine this.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that they are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial 50% rating. The right knee and left knee disability claims are remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion, and the TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the knee claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hyperlipidemia, left shoulder disorder, right and left knee disorders, and left thigh disorder due to lack of a current disability. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding the dates of active duty, National Guard service, and VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and right ankle disorders due to inadequate examination reports and failure to consider secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, including as secondary to his service-connected left ankle fracture, has been reopened and granted. However, the claim for direct service connection is denied.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability. His left shoulder replacement (prosthesis) is rated at 50 percent, and the Veteran's left knee disability remains at a 60 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for DJD of the left knee and remanded the issue of an increased rating for DJD of the right knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability, left ankle disability, tinnitus, sleep apnea, or skin condition of the total body that began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The skin condition of the total body is considered secondary to his service-connected idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral knee disability have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, and tension headaches have been granted. The Veteran's claim for a heart disorder has been denied. Other issues related to his service-connected conditions or disabilities are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral ankle disorder and alopecia have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.,The Veteran's claim for sleep disorder, secondary to service-connected tinnitus and joint pain, has been remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the existence and etiology of any such disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral knee disability due to incomplete records and need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's back, right knee, and left knee braces did not tend to wear out or tear his clothing, so he is denied annual clothing allowances for the 2015 calendar year.