Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral hip disabilities, and hypertension. The Veteran's other claims remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a bilateral hearing loss disability has been dismissed as moot due to the grant of such benefit in February 2018. The claims for right fourth finger, bilateral hand, and left knee disabilities have not met the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, and his left knee disability does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent. The appeals are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for the right or left knee, stomach, or vision disorders. Therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and right knee condition have been withdrawn by the appellant prior to any decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations and medical opinions regarding his eye disorder, right knee disability, sleep apnea, and rash of the stomach and thighs.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus with an effective date of December 3, 2009. The Veteran's claims for other disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including a psychiatric disorder, have been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, hyposmia as a residual of oral surgery, and headache condition. Service connection is also granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eczema of the bilateral lower extremities, and residuals of oral surgery. The Veteran's current diagnoses are found to be related to his service in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee conditions do not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). However, due to VA policy, if the schedular percentage threshold criteria are not met, but there is evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, the case must be submitted to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration of a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his active duty medical records and service personnel file. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it depends on the outcome of these other claims.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and lumbar spine disabilities were previously denied, but not reopened. The cervical spine disability claim was denied.,The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated at 10% prior to July 15, 2015, and 10% thereafter. Tinnitus is assigned a 10% rating.,PTSD is rated at 30% since July 21, 2015. Ischemic heart disease remains rated at 30%. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right lower extremity radiculopathy or bilateral knee disability, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for prostate condition, right ankle disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) have been withdrawn. The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is due to his own willful misconduct.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for further examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's GERD with Barrett's esophagus was incurred during active service and the Board found it meets the criteria for service connection. The bilateral knee disability claim is pending as part of a separate remand.