Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise and grants service connection for tinnitus due to noise exposure during service. The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability is remanded as there are insufficient findings regarding the etiology of his current condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 19, 2013 and a 20 percent rating thereafter are denied. The Veteran's right knee strain is rated at 10 percent since May 10, 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for his left and right knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for pancreatic cancer as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to inadequate development and need for a VA examination.

The Board denied extraschedular ratings for the Veteran's service-connected loss of motion of various joints associated with Reiter’s syndrome, finding that the schedular criteria adequately described his symptoms.

The Board has granted a TDIU, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, and dismissed the issue of SMC at the housebound rate. The case is remanded to obtain a new VA examination for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back and bilateral knee disabilities are related to his military service, with current disability established and a link between in-service injury and symptoms found. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims of chronic prostatitis and low back pain, and remanded the issues of increased ratings for left knee strain, chest pain, and tension headaches.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia was rated at 10 percent, as the symptoms did not meet or approximate a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, but the decision does not specify which conditions or disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder, back, and left hip disabilities that pre-existed the Veteran's military service but were aggravated by her service. The bilateral knee disability was found to have been incurred in-service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability and scars of the bilateral knees associated with bilateral total knee arthroplasty due to incomplete examination findings.

The Veteran's claims for right foot plantar fasciitis, right ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, benign prostatic hyperplasia and hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction (ED), left foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral onychomycosis, eye disorder, left ankle disorder, back disorder, and tinnitus have all been denied. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability from March 13, 2013 to May 24, 2013 and from July 1, 2013. The initial rating of 10 percent for chondromalacia patella with arthritis remains unchanged.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee and bilateral pes planus. The Board finds that no claim was filed or adjudicated prior to April 21, 2010.,The Veteran's claims were denied in September 1994 and January 2009. No new and material evidence was submitted within one year of these decisions. The AOJ granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously-denied claims for bilateral pes planus and patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee on April 21, 2010.

The Board has remanded the cases of a rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee status post total knee replacement and TDIU due to issues with the current examination report not fully complying with VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were found to meet the criteria for a combined disability rating greater than 80 percent from July 29, 1997, to August 9, 2001, and greater than 90 percent from August 9, 2001, to June 27, 2002. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to March 13, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including undifferentiated somatoform disorder and anxiety disorder with mood swings, lack of concentration, memory loss and fatigue, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations and mental health issues.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating for PTSD, as well as his request for TDIU. The appeal of service connection for bilateral shin splints is also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU due to incomplete development of records and inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be further developed before they can be adjudicated.