Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee/lower leg painful scar.

The Board has remanded the case for further action on the issues of entitlement to initial increased disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis and for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right leg above the knee amputation and left lower foot peripheral neuropathy, have resulted in a combined disability rating of 90 percent. The Board has determined that these conditions meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing due to locomotion limitations.

The Veteran's claims for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been reopened, but service connection is granted only for the left knee disability. The appeal regarding the right knee disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals for additional examinations and to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The issues are related to ratings for depressive disorder, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right hip iliotibial band syndrome.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the evidence supported his claim of in-service noise exposure and persistent symptoms since service.,A VA hearing loss examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has current hearing loss, which may be related to service. He testified that he experienced hearing loss during service and since then.,The Veteran's headaches were remanded for a VA examination to determine their etiology. The Veteran testified that his symptoms began in service and have persisted.,A VA examination is needed to assess the nature and cause of any right shoulder disability, including pain. The Veteran testified about an injury during boot camp which he avoided seeking treatment for fear of retribution.,The Veteran's right knee disability was remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology. He testified that his duties as an infantryman put stress on his knees and led to current pain.,A new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran’s lumbar spine disability, including any flare-ups requiring bedrest.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right wrist carpel tunnel syndrome, left wrist carpel tunnel syndrome, and PTSD were dismissed due to withdrawal. The appeal for reopening of service connection for PTSD was granted, but the claim for service connection for PTSD itself was denied. Appeals for service connection for right hip disorder, right knee disorder, and right foot disorder were remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and remanded one claim for a rating increase. The issues are related to the left knee and left Achilles tendon disabilities, with the latter requiring an additional examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to in-service injuries and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right knee and leg disabilities, hypertension, right foot disability, lower back disability, and right hip disability. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, allergic rhinitis, and several other conditions are granted service connection. Service connection is also remanded for low back, cervical spine, right knee, gastrointestinal, and hypertension disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for a left knee disability before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a compensable disability rating for his service-connected headaches.,There is no evidence of in-service injury or illness related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his lumbar spine disability, as well as his bilateral knee conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his knees based on in-service jumping duties.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disability, including symptoms such as locking and grinding. The claim is also being remanded due to an increased rating for the left knee.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar paravertebral myositis, degenerative osteoarthritis of the left knee, and other musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding increased ratings for his service-connected cervical strain and chronic right knee strain prior to the Board's decision.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities as there is no evidence linking the current conditions to service, including the Veteran's reported exposure during the Battle of the Bulge.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability, flexion limitation, extension limitation, and dislocated semilunar cartilage, is rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257 for severe knee impairment with recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.