Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and entitlement to a Total Disability Rating for Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 10, 2012 due to incomplete VA examinations and lack of clarity in the medical records regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee instability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tibula/fibula fracture and PTSD have been dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw his hearing request.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen his previously denied claims for right knee condition and back conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and left hip disabilities due to incomplete verification of his periods of active duty, inactive duty training, and ACDUTRA. Additionally, new etiology opinions are needed as the current ones are inadequate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for bilateral knee disorders, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back condition due to new evidence showing ongoing back pain since service. The left knee arthritis claims are remanded as additional evidence indicates worsening and recent surgery.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, left hip, and left wrist disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for hypertension is granted, and he is now entitled to this benefit under the PACT Act.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss as secondary to TBI is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss in the right ear is proximately due to his service-connected TBI.

The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, but dismissed the claims of service connection for skin disability and left knee/leg disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent from June 8, 2012 to August 23, 2019. The Board has granted a TDIU effective March 29, 2019.,From March 29, 2019 to August 23, 2019, the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied a separate disability rating for right knee lateral instability or recurrent subluxation, finding no current diagnosis of such conditions and insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood and alcohol use disorder) has been reopened. The claims are now granted.,However, the issues of entitlement to initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU), and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance are still pending and require further development.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is being remanded for a new examination to assess the severity of her condition, as previous examinations were inadequate.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hip and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left ankle fracture, left knee disability, right knee disability, and left knee scar as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for accrued temporary 100 percent benefits beyond April 30, 2012, for microfracture chondroplasty of the femoral focal area of her left knee is granted. The Board finds that the directive to avoid putting weight on her leg until July 2012 constituted continued convalescence and thus the Veteran's temporary 100 percent disability evaluation should have continued until July 31, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran was diagnosed with this condition during his active duty service.

All appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of all issues.,An effective date of January 26, 2018, has been granted for a 50 percent disability evaluation for headaches.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and either active service or any pre-existing conditions. The Board also found no secondary service connection as the Veteran's current condition is not related to his service-connected disabilities.