Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing that his current left ear hearing loss is related to service. The Board also found no aggravation of pre-existing right ear hearing loss during service.,The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding its onset and cause.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and shin splints, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found that the Veteran did not provide credible testimony regarding continuity of symptomatology since service discharge.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, lumbar spine and bilateral knee conditions, PTSD, and mallet right 5th finger condition, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim based on these combined disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and to obtain relevant medical records. The issues include increased ratings for lumbar spine DDD with IVDS, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hip disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions as secondary to his service-connected pes planus, bilateral knee disabilities, and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee condition and an increased rating for left knee strain due to inadequate examination reports, new evidence submission, and the need for further medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability. The examiner must provide opinions on the relationship between service, any pre-existing conditions, and current disabilities.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the postoperative hernia scar, but remanded the issue of service connection for the right knee disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's chronic tension headaches are granted service connection. The other issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent disabling from January 28, 2010. The lumbosacral strain is rated at 100 percent disabling from the same date. Effective January 28, 2010, the Veteran also receives a 100 percent rating for his service-connected PTSD and SMC based on housebound.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and a cervical spine disability, but has remanded these issues due to outstanding VA treatment records and private treatment records. The Veteran is also being asked to undergo additional examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient examination reports and requests for additional information.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disability, including PTSD, and for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities due to inadequate opinions in the April 2019 VA examination. The Veteran is also requested to provide additional treatment records from various sources.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, shoulder disorders, and knee disorders due to secondary service-connected conditions or exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's service records indicate he served in the U.S. Navy from April 1966 until March 1968.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including GERD, left shoulder strain, right knee DJD, left knee DJD, and lumbar spine DJD. The issues include seeking increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals regarding his left knee conditions have been dismissed as he has withdrawn them.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee, right knee, and left ankle disabilities, as well as her lichen sclerosus, granuloma annulare, painful appendectomy scar, scar secondary to appendectomy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with hiatal hernia to include diverticulosis. The Veteran is also remanded for a TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability ratings due to insufficient information from previous VA examinations regarding flare-ups and their impact on range of motion. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's hallux limitus, right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, right trochanteric bursitis and degenerative joint disease, and left trochanteric bursitis and degenerative joint disease are all granted as secondary to the service-connected low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to incomplete STRs. The case will be returned to the RO with instructions to request a complete copy of the Veteran’s STRs from all potential sources, including the RMC and medical facilities at Fort Drum, New York.