Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the Board remanded his claim for service connection of a left knee disability. The decision on bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it is still under review.

The Veteran's right knee brace caused wear and tear on his clothing, leading to a clothing allowance for 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee degenerative joint disease causes his clothing to wear or tear, warranting a clothing allowance for the year 2014.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for hypertension, cervical spine disorder, and left knee disorder were denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s service-connected conditions did not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,Specifically, the Board determined that the Veteran's hypertension was not manifested by diastolic pressure of predominantly 110 or more or systolic pressure of predominantly 200 or more. The cervical spine disorder did not result in forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, and the left knee disorder did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the cases of cervical spine spondylosis, right knee osteoarthritis, hypertension, and left shoulder and arm disability for further development. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of djd of the right knee was denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a grant of an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of shrapnel wounds to the left leg and knee, an increased rating for PTSD, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and updated treatment records.

The Board has denied service connection for back and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of continuity or recurrent symptoms since separation from active service. Service connection for a psychiatric disability (including PTSD) is remanded due to the need for verification of a claimed stressor.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a psychiatric disability and the rating for left knee degenerative joint disease with anterior instability. The Veteran's VA treatment records from 2002 onwards need to be obtained, as well as an updated examination of his left knee.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU for the entire appeal period.

The Board dismissed the appeals for numbness in the arms, myofascial pain of the upper back, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). For cervical spondylosis with degenerative joint disease, a rating of 30 percent is granted as of October 3, 2017. The other conditions received initial ratings.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and higher disability ratings related to various conditions, including left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, left knee chondromalacia and osteoarthritis, and lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and IVDS. The issues of service connection for bladder dysfunction and bowel dysfunction secondary to these disabilities were remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance. The increased rating claims for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine and bursitis of the right shoulder are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected total left knee replacement with nontender scar is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability and denied service connection for a right ankle disability. The Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is found to be related to his active duty service, while the right ankle disability was not shown during service and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology post-service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder calcific tendinopathy, right shoulder subacromial bursitis, and bilateral knee disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active duty service.

The Board has reopened the claims to establish service connection for traumatic arthritis of the right 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th fingers and a right knee disability. However, further development is needed before these issues can be decided on their merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings for hypertension and degenerative joint disease and chondromalacia of the right knee were dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in November 2017.