Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case to determine whether the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and to refer the matter for extraschedular consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the knees did not have its onset during active service or within one year of discharge and is not related to any in-service disease, event, or injury. The Board also determined that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back strain and/or postoperative bunion of the right little toe.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders are not related to his service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequacy of the January 2013 VA examination report, and a supplemental medical opinion is needed regarding the etiology of any current left knee disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also found that generalized osteoarthritis, which is hereditary in nature, was incurred during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for further examinations to assess the current severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is manifested by extension better than 5 degrees and flexion better than 60 degrees, but with painful motion. The Board denied a rating in excess of the initial 10 percent assigned.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee, right hip, and low back disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by active service and are not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected SFW to the right thigh.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a temporary total rating were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher evaluations for his left knee disorder or right ankle disability.

The Veteran's tendonitis of the wrists had its onset during active service and is granted service connection. The nature and etiology of any current bilateral leg disability, other than knee or hip, will be determined by further examination.

The Veteran's knee and wrist disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since September 8, 2010. The initial ratings for the right knee medial meniscus tear and pes bursitis, left knee sprain, and right wrist sprain are granted.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with mild degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is granted. A separate disability rating for right knee instability from May 10, 2012 is also granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disorder are all found to be related to service. The Veteran's PTSD and vertigo claims were not discussed at the hearing.

The Veteran's right knee disability, following his total knee replacement surgery and convalescence period, is rated at 60 percent since April 1, 2008.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for alopecia, bilateral foot dermatitis, a stomach disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are now reconsidered on their merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed left, right knee disabilities and center chest disability.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right knee disability and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's current right knee disability is found to be related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a certification from the Chief Medical Director regarding the use of his service-connected back and knee braces.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty and there is no evidence linking the current condition to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's sleep disorder, including nightmares and difficulty falling asleep, is considered part of his service-connected PTSD. A separate rating for this symptomatology is not warranted.