Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for IBS, but denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and generalized arthralgia involving ankles, shoulders, knees and hips. The right inguinal hernia claim is also addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have been rated at 50 percent since August 17, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise with respect to whether the Veteran has experienced very frequent and prolonged migraine headaches that have been completely prostrating and likely productive of severe economic inadaptability throughout the entire appellate period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are not of such severity to preclude substantially gainful employment prior to August 6, 2010.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with an updated VA examination of his left knee. The appeal will be returned for further adjudication.

The Veteran's low backache and right knee disability have been granted service connection.,The claim for residuals of right ankle injury (claimed as right foot condition) is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and an initial compensable rating for his nephropathy disorder, finding no current diagnosis of either condition and insufficient evidence to establish in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeal for a temporary total evaluation due to post-surgical convalescence and an increased rating for his left knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support the claims.

The Veteran has current bilateral knee chondromalacia patella which had causal origin in active service, and the Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise regarding this claim. Service connection for bilateral knee chondromalacia is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased rating of his left knee disorder. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is August 27, 2007, as it was received within one year of discharge from active duty. For the increased rating claim, the Board found that a compensable rating was not factually ascertainable prior to the VA examination on October 14, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding his left shoulder disability and additional development of evidence related to his left knee and left elbow disabilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral pes planus and for bilateral knee disability secondary to bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's disability ratings for right knee degenerative joint disease and internal derangement were reduced from 20% to 10%, effective July 1, 2009. The reductions were proper based on the improvement in his condition.

The Veteran's lung disability, asbestosis and asbestos-related pleural plaques, is found to be service-connected. The low back and bilateral knee disabilities are not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and examination.,The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and examination.,The Veteran's hypertension is not related to service or diabetes mellitus with nephropathy. It is also not secondary to herbicide exposure, but may be aggravated by diabetes mellitus with nephropathy.,The Veteran's atrial fibrillation is not related to service or diabetes mellitus with nephropathy. It is also not secondary to herbicide exposure, but may be aggravated by diabetes mellitus with nephropathy.,The Veteran's heart disease other than atrial fibrillation is not related to service or diabetes mellitus with nephropathy. It is also not secondary to herbicide exposure, but may be aggravated by diabetes mellitus with nephropathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development. The issues are whether he should receive a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine disability and left knee arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as chondromalacia patella and mild osteoarthritis of the left knee, was not incurred during active service or due to an event, injury, or disease incurred in active service. The preponderance of evidence is against this claim.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee arthroplasty, is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 60% since June 1, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder condition and a left knee condition, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by his military service.