Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran is denied an effective date earlier than September 22, 2015 for the grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD.,The Veteran is denied an effective date earlier than September 22, 2015 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran is denied an effective date earlier than September 22, 2015 for the grant of service connection for left knee instability.,The Veteran is denied an effective date earlier than September 22, 2015 for the grant of service connection for left knee limitation of flexion.,The Veteran is denied an effective date earlier than September 22, 2015 for the grant of service connection for lumbar strain.,The Veteran is denied an effective date earlier than September 22, 2015 for the grant of service connection for right knee arthritis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence received since the last denial, and additional VA examinations are required to determine if the Veteran's knee, foot, and headache disorders are related to his service-connected conditions or active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and remanded the issues of service connection for left ear hearing loss, an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, and an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for left hip disability, right hip disability, cervical spine fusion for degenerative disc disease, and right knee arthritis have been granted.,The claim for erectile dysfunction remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment for the entire appeal period prior to December 7, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for lumbar spine disability and right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted, with a disability rating of 50 percent. Other claims were either denied or remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is granted a 10 percent rating from October 19, 2011 to April 2, 2014. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period. For his right and left knee disabilities, the Veteran's claim is remanded as there may be a material worsening of these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded to consider new evidence since the last supplemental statement of the case was issued in August 2015.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, including as secondary to a service-connected right ankle disability, and sleep apnea. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims of in-service injury or chronicity of symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the claims for left knee disorders, hypertension/high blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for right knee osteoarthritis/degenerative joint disease, status post hemiarthroplasty from July 6, 2012 through August 31, 2013. Effective September 1, 2013, the Veteran is granted a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of left ear hearing loss was denied. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for postlaminectomy syndrome is granted, effective from the date of service connection. Appeals for ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities and knee strains are all denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination. The issues are related to his service-connected right knee disabilities, specifically anterior cruciate ligament laxity and osteoarthritis of the right knee with limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and meniscal injury, right knee degenerative arthritis, and chronic sinusitis. Service connection was denied for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for DJD of the left knee and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being returned for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of his bilateral shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, ankle conditions and migraine headaches are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, but the other issues related to right wrist condition, left knee condition, and sleep disorder are remanded due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's left-knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 2, 2014. The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for instability from November 9, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for painful motion following multiple left knee meniscectomies is granted. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for DJD, left knee remains denied.