Knee decisions — 2013

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral knee condition and TDIU based on his service-connected back disability. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the nature of the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability, its relationship to his service-connected disabilities, and whether he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection a left elbow disability and a compensable evaluation for residuals of a right knee injury with retropatellar pain syndrome, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these appeals.

The Board found no nexus between the Veteran's in-service injury and his current right knee arthritis, thus denying service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete service records and the need for further medical opinions. The issues of entitlement to service connection for gunshot wound injuries to the right hip and injury to the right knee are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right knee. The left knee and asthma claims are pending.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total knee arthroplasty (TKA), has been rated at 40 percent since June 2005. The evaluation was granted as the condition is manifested by looseness requiring a brace.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and pain, is rated at 30 percent effective October 18, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining private medical records and providing additional opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected conditions and any current disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability was granted, with a 30 percent rating assigned for limitation of extension effective May 24, 2011. The decision also continued the previously assigned 10 percent rating for arthritis of the right knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and left hip disorders are not related to his service-connected right knee disabilities, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is currently employed in a sedentary position and generates an income above the poverty threshold.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disability, low back disability, neuropathy of the lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, bladder disability, prostate disorder (benign prostatic hypertrophy), and bilateral arm disability are not related to his military service. However, he was exposed to asbestos during service, which is presumed to be a contributing factor in causing his current respiratory disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee conditions, instability of the right knee, and moderate impairment of the right leg quadriceps muscle. The effective date is October 21, 2005, as this was the date the Veteran filed to reopen his claim for these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and knee conditions. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee conditions remain on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder are all granted. The Veteran does not have ratable hearing loss but his hearing has worsened more than 10 dB from his entrance to his exit physical at least at one of the ratable frequencies.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, and Achilles tendonitis/plantar fasciitis are related to his active service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, which adequately reflects the severity of his disability as it does not cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's current bilateral knee tri-compartment osteoarthritis is found to be related to his active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.