Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's sleep apnea and right knee disability are granted service connection, while the initial compensable evaluation for hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease is denied. The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding this issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing. The appeal is not ready for final disposition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a qualified clinician to address the Veteran's claims of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings and service connection for various disabilities, including arthritis of the right hip. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of both knees has been rated at 10 percent each, with separate ratings for instability. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the April 2002 rating decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for a right knee condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant's left and right knee disabilities are service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is service-connected and has granted a 10 percent disability rating for his hypertension.

The Board found that the Veteran's GERD existed prior to his period of active duty and was not aggravated by service. The issue of an increased disability rating for right knee arthritis is pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is not related to service and denied his claim. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss was remanded but remains pending.

The Veteran's right knee scar is rated at 10 percent, effective May 21, 2008. The claim for a higher initial evaluation remains pending.

The Veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each under Diagnostic Code 5003 for degenerative arthritis. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no limitation of motion to 45 degrees or extension to 10 degrees, which would allow two individual 10% ratings.,The Veteran's thrombophlebitis of the right lower extremity is rated at 40 percent under Diagnostic Code 7121. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as there is no persistent ulceration or massive board-like edema with constant pain at rest.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred or aggravated as a result of active service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by any service-connected disability. The claim for an increased rating for bronchitis was denied as there were no findings showing the Veteran had respiratory failure, cor pulmonale, right ventricular hypertrophy, or outpatient oxygen therapy required.

The Board found that the Veteran's current knee conditions are not attributable to his military service, including any in-service injury incurred as a result of a fall from a tank. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a left knee and left ankle condition due to an in-service surgery, as further development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a grant of any of the requested evaluations.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities were found to not warrant a higher disability rating prior to August 26, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with a VA examination for his service-connected knee and low back disabilities, as well as an opinion regarding his fecal incontinence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder injury, left knee ligament tear, and right knee osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.