Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of February 22, 2017 for both the TDIU and DEA benefits based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis, is a result of his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic rhinitis, bilateral hearing loss, and right knee sprain are granted. The effective date of the award is not specified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, including strain and chronic pain status post ACL reconstruction, is related to his military service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the initial decision and a need for further examination and review of the Veteran's service records.

The Board has received notification that the Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeals for service connection of right knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities. As a result, these appeals are dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to a failure of VA to obtain an adequate VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for his knee disabilities, as well as GERD. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left shoulder conditions due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran is presumed to have entered service in sound condition, but VA medical opinions are needed to address whether his current disabilities were caused or aggravated by periods of active duty, ADT, or IDT.

The Veteran's right knee disability was not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition, and the temporary total rating for surgery due to her ankle/foot issue is also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete consideration of obesity as an intermediate step in the causal chain for service connection. The Veteran's left knee disability is associated with her obesity, which may be caused or aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae as moot due to a prior grant of service connection under the 'legacy' system. The claims for other conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right hip strain, left hip strain, right knee strain, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's service records show a high probability of noise exposure in an infantry battalion.

The Veteran's tinnitus and heart block are rated at the maximum available under VA guidelines, with no further increase possible.,The Veteran's left knee disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on functional impairment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to in-service acoustic trauma.,No current right arm disability, GERD, or fungal foot condition was found.,Service connection for fungus of the feet is denied.,Bilateral knee disability and facial cyst are remanded for further development.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded.,Minimal small vessel periventricular ischemic white matter disease is remanded as secondary to hypertension.,Chronic headaches are remanded.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for rating increases and service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's migraine headache disability is granted an initial 10 percent rating.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction disability does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a thoracolumbar spine disorder, and a right knee disorder have been readjudicated. The Board finds new and relevant evidence has been received sufficient to reopen these claims.,Service connection is granted for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 1, 2016. Therefore, the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied. The Veteran also does not meet the criteria for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 prior to April 1, 2016.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to make a determination on whether the Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis is related to service, or if it is caused by his service-connected bilateral ankle arthritis. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.