Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee instability prior to June 5, 2014 was denied. The maximum schedular rating had already been granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective June 1, 2011, the date of his separation from service. The decision was based on his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms within one year post-service. Frostbite is also not considered a compensable disability.,Frostbite residuals are not recognized by VA for compensation purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board denied service connection for Personality Disorder, Left Leg Disability (including residuals of a horseback injury), Back Disability, Skin or Groin Disability, and Residuals of Head Injury as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has found the VA examinations inadequate and remanded for further development, including a new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right wrist disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection has been granted. The left knee scars are rated at 10 percent, right knee arthritis is rated at 10 percent, and the Veteran was granted new and material evidence to reopen his claims for service connection of various conditions including PTSD, depressive disorder, sleep apnea, gastritis, GERD, and others.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and new issues were dismissed. The Board found no error in the RO’s decisions regarding PTSD, left knee disability, and right hand disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The claim for TDIU is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the remaining claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for right foot disorder and right knee disorder have been denied. The left knee arthritis claim is granted, but the right foot and right knee disorders are not related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's left ankle condition, as well as a review of his left knee disability. The issues are related to service connection and rating for these conditions.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities were evaluated under Diagnostic Codes 5257, 5260, and 5261. The VA examiner found no subluxation or lateral instability in either knee, which precludes a higher rating based on these criteria. The knees' range of motion was within normal limits, thus not warranting any higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261. As such, the Veteran's initial compensable ratings for left and right knee strain were denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and he meets the criteria for a TDIU prior to December 19, 2017.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his right knee disability and a compensable evaluation for his service-connected right knee scars are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ureterolithiasis, right shin splints, hypertension, renal cyst, thoracolumbar strain/sprain with scoliosis, chondromalacia patella, status post right knee ACL surgery, and headache syndrome were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for his hypertension starting from August 2, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability and dismissed his claim for left knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, as well as his bilateral hearing loss disability, were not shown to have had their onset in service or within one year of discharge. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,Service connection was denied for all three conditions due to a lack of evidence showing a direct link between the disabilities and service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right knee rating and TDIU due to evidence of worsening since his last VA examination, and because income information is needed from 2005 to present. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for low back strain, major depressive disorder and anxiety, and bilateral knee disorder due to inadequate examinations and incomplete opinions.