Knee decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for a left hip condition, finding that the Veteran's current hip condition is not related to his service or a service-connected disability. The case was also remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Veteran's right leg/knee, left hip, and lumbar spine disorders are related to his service-connected left knee disorder.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis of a right hip disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate efforts to obtain them. The RO must attempt to secure his military treatment records from 2007-2008.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and requests for new opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee condition and GERD/acid reflux.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, allergy condition, asthma, lumbar strain and partial discectomy, bilateral hip condition, bilateral knee condition, sleep apnea/sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disability is denied. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is not established as there was no diagnosis of hearing loss sufficient for VA purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left forearm disability, right knee disability, and hypertension due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Veteran's left mandible fracture is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,Service connection for sleep apnea and left knee condition are granted. Service connection for left ankle condition is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions and exposure to burn pits during service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disorders and residuals of frostbite of the hands and feet, finding no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied due to lack of new and material evidence, resulting in a final decision. The appeal is denied.,The Veteran's increased rating claim for diabetes mellitus remains at 20 percent, as the current evidence does not support a higher rating under the criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine and LLE radiculopathy have been dismissed. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the appeals are still pending as they remain on remand due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and increased ratings for her left knee degenerative changes and right knee degenerative joint disease, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or chronicity of symptoms sufficient to establish service connection. The Board also found that the current disabilities did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as his left and right foot disabilities, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee strain, lumbar spine strain with arthritis, and lower left radiculopathy. The issues are inextricably intertwined due to their interrelated nature.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic fatigue, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained multisymptom illness is denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted effective February 6, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist disability, passive aggressive personality disorder, and hepatitis C have been reopened. The claim for bilateral knee disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for left and right knee disabilities, service connection for GERD, and service connection for right and left hand disabilities due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran's GERD is being examined again to determine if it is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.