Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right knee disability and squamous cell carcinoma of the throat and lymph nodes. The issues are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule VA examinations.,The Veteran contends that his squamous cell carcinoma of the throat and lymph nodes may be related to exposure to herbicides during service. Service records confirm his Vietnam service, but no specific Agent Orange exposure has been documented. The issue is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if there is any link between the cancer and military service.,The Veteran seeks an increased evaluation for his anxiety disorder. He testified that he experiences various symptoms including depression, fatigue, memory loss, and difficulty understanding complex commands. The issue is being remanded for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board has ordered additional VA treatment records to be obtained for the Veteran's left knee disability. The appeal is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative changes are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on current evidence.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and disabilities, including numbness and tingling of the hands and feet, heart palpitations, right hip disability, high cholesterol, allergies, stress fractures, left knee disability, papillary necrosis, temporomandibular joint disorder, a lump on the cheek, right ankle disability, pelvic pain, fecal incontinence, urinary incontinence, hernia of the abdominal wall, and hemorrhoids. The appeal is being remanded for further action.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and a respiratory disability, finding that there is no current evidence of chronic disabilities resulting from in-service injuries or exposures.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, GERD, residual scar from a left breast lumpectomy, tinnitus, and migraine headaches. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to her military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by pain and limited range of motion, does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a video conference hearing, and the claims file should be returned to the Board after the hearing is conducted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional etiological opinions and compliance with prior Board remand instructions.

The Veteran's left knee instability and replacement disability have not met the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current knee disabilities and any in-service injury or incident.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and his bilateral Achilles tendonitis is also rated at 10 percent. Both conditions are not found to warrant a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The Veteran is also receiving a 10 percent rating for his traumatic brain injury without residuals prior to March 28, 2013, with no further increase in rating.

The Veteran's low back disability, including sclerosis of the sacroiliac joint, was found to have its onset during service and is therefore granted as service connected. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and bilateral knee disabilities are also granted.

The Veteran's initial rating for migraine headaches was denied, and his right knee disability received separate ratings for limited extension and instability as of May 9, 2013. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher initial rating prior to March 25, 2009, or thereafter, and that the propriety of the assigned ratings was proper.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee arthritis was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected right knee arthritis. The claim for service connection for left knee arthritis was denied.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease as secondary to service-connected right foot, right ankle, right hip and/or low back disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action, including consideration of a separate rating based on lateral instability and/or subluxation under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Veteran's right and left foot hallux valgus with hammer toes are rated at the maximum 10 percent under Diagnostic Codes 5280 and 5282, respectively. The Veteran's left knee disability is also rated at the maximum 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5259.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his hallux valgus and hammer toes of both feet, as well as his left knee disability, are denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right and left knee disorders, as well as his right calf varicose veins, are at least as likely as not related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.