Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has been found to aggravate his degenerative arthritis of the left knee, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and degenerative arthritis of the right hip. Effective August 16, 2011, a 40 percent rating is granted for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a left ankle condition or a right knee condition, either on a direct basis or as secondary to his left ankle condition. The evidence is insufficient to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease (DJD), is as likely as not related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain an addendum opinion regarding his claims of secondary service connection for right knee and low back disorders, as well as a new VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for right foot hammertoes, nerve damage to the right foot, nerve damage to the right leg, and a right knee disability (including as secondary to a right foot disability).

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

For the period prior to July 5, 2011, the Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities were not rated as compensable. The lumbar strain was granted but at a non-compensable level.,From July 5, 2011 onwards, the Veteran's chondromalacia of the left knee is rated at 10 percent, while his chondromalacia of the right knee remains at 0 percent. The lumbar strain was upgraded to a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his right ankle fracture, left knee injury based on instability, and left knee degenerative joint disease were denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis of the ankles or severe instability in the knees that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disease is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion evidence regarding his current diagnosis and whether any heart disease is caused or made worse by his service-connected peripheral vascular disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher initial ratings or a TDIU.

The Veteran's left knee disability, prior to October 17, 2007, was rated at 10 percent due to pain and functional loss but no additional limitation of motion. The current rating is appropriate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, right knee, and skin disorder of the back were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder, left knee, and right ankle disabilities are service-connected as they were incurred during his active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee tendonitis and prepatellar bursitis were incurred during active service, resolving all doubt in his favor. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's asthma was found to have existed prior to his period of service and not aggravated by it. The Board denied the claims for left and right knee disabilities due to incomplete records, but noted that VA efforts were unsuccessful in obtaining additional pertinent medical records from private providers.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee arthritis is at least as likely as not caused by her service-connected disabilities, including right hip bursitis, mechanical low back strain, left femoral neck stress fracture with hip bursitis, left knee musculoligamentous strain, right knee musculoligamentous strain, cervical spine condition, right ankle injury, and small muscle strain right foot with previous stress fractures.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) was denied, as the pre-existing pes planus did not worsen during service and the lumbar DDD and bilateral knee DJD are due to aging. The effective date of CAD service connection is set at February 23, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including right elbow and knee conditions, sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorder, and erectile dysfunction, were not incurred or aggravated during his period of active military service. The VA examiners provided opinions indicating these conditions are less likely related to service.

The Veteran's low back condition is related to his active service, and he has been granted service connection for this disability.,While the Veteran reported right knee pain during service, there is no evidence of DJD within one year post-service. The Board found that the current DJD of the right knee is not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal of his claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of those appeals.