Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.,Service connection is granted for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Unspecified Depressive Disorder, as well as bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The back, right knee, and left ankle disabilities are remanded for further review on the issue of secondary service connection to pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities have worsened since the last VA examination in April 2012. The claims are remanded for new examinations to evaluate the current severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his thoracolumbar spine disorder is granted, with a current rating of 40 percent.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for hearing loss. The cases of left hip, right hip, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has found that the Veteran's February 2018 VA examination, which addressed his right knee disability, was not considered in the rating decision. The case is being remanded to allow for a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) to consider this evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disorder and a bilateral knee disorder. The Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss is remanded, as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding whether his current hearing loss is related to military noise exposure.,The Veteran's TBI claim is also remanded, with an addendum opinion needed to address the significant threshold shift in his left ear during service.

The Board has denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the feet, toes, wrists, and knees and diabetes mellitus. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is remanded, and the claim for an earlier effective date for degenerative arthritis, bilateral knee condition remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder and right knee disabilities have aggravated his panic disorder with agoraphobia, allowing for the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board has denied a higher rating for this condition. The claims for service connection of bilateral knee disability and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to incomplete examination reports.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee arthritis and multiple foot and hip conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right knee disability, finding no evidence of chronic conditions during or within one year after service. The Board also found that there was no link between any current disabilities and service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 20% rating for right knee instability from January 1, 2017 was granted. Additionally, the Veteran received a separate 20% rating for his right knee meniscal degeneration and effusion from February 28, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tailbone injury, bilateral hearing loss, myopia, right hand disability, left knee disability, and left ankle disability. The decision also denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied service connection for arthritis of the bilateral ankles, feet, knees, lumbar spine, and thoracic spine as secondary to service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative changes of the patellofemoral compartment are found to be service-connected. The Board also remanded several other issues for further examination and consideration.

The Board has denied service connection for migraines and granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee chondromalacia patella and osteoarthritis (flexion) and extension were denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for flexion, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and information regarding his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and meniscectomy with chondromalacia are found to be directly related, warranting a temporary 100% disability rating post-total knee arthroplasty.