Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, is granted. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran is granted a clothing allowance for the 2017 calendar year due to his right knee ankle foot orthosis (KAFO) which tends to wear and tear his clothing.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic left knee disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Veteran's left knee strain with posttraumatic degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent effective July 14, 2016.,A separate rating for limitation of flexion is provided as of that date.

The claim for service connection for a right knee disability is reopened and remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an adequate opinion concerning the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has dismissed the claim of an increased rating for hypertension and denied service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome. The claims for service connection for a left knee condition and a right knee condition are remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to outstanding VA treatment records and the Veteran's testimony of increased severity since a previous examination. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's right knee instability and degenerative joint disease are rated at 10% each, effective March 1, 2007. The left knee strain is also rated at 10%, but only from June 5, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ear condition was denied due to lack of an established nexus.,Service connection for neck, left knee, and sleep conditions were also denied as there is no current disability.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, bilateral knee disabilities, and an unspecified depressive disorder due to additional development being necessary.

The Board denied the Veteran's attempt to reopen his service connection claim for a left knee disability, finding that new and material evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder due to the appellant withdrawing her appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) from the date of initial claims to present. The remand requires a clarification regarding functional loss due to flare-ups and repetitive use over time.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including right hip, left knee, and right ear disorders (other than hearing loss or tinnitus), as well as sinusitis and an upper respiratory disorder. The Veteran's symptoms have been attributed to his already service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's chest pain is granted service connection as a qualifying chronic disability related to his active duty service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.,Service connection for seborrheic keratosis, right knee condition, and sinusitis is denied due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral ankle and left knee disabilities, including as secondary to service-connected gouty arthritis, and entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for gouty arthritis due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives.