Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hip and right knee disabilities are related to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and notices, to address his claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorder, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and PTSD.

The Veteran's right knee disorder does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left knee disability has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 21, 2010 and did not meet the criteria for a higher rating since February 1, 2012 under Diagnostic Code 5055.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected right knee disability and any current left knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total knee replacement surgery, is currently rated at 30 percent from September 11, 2012. The current rating reflects intermediate levels of pain and limited motion without severe painful motion or weakness.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome is denied as a matter of law due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen his left knee disability claim. The psychiatric disorder and acid reflux claims were also denied.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia of the patella is currently rated at 30 percent since September 1, 2012. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's inability to travel for a hearing, and will reschedule the Travel Board hearing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including leukemic mononucleosis, lymphoma, deep white matter deviation to include memory loss, headaches other than sinusitis with headaches, bilateral hearing loss disability, bilateral inner ear nerve damage to include vertigo and loss of balance, right-sided tongue paralysis, right-sided vocal cord paralysis, residuals of strep throat with heart murmur, right-sided neck gland swelling with difficulty swallowing and a near-esophageal knot, right shoulder rotator cuff disability, bilateral hand nerve damage, brittle fingernails, heart palpitations, hypertension, bilateral leg disorder to include weakness, edema, vascular deterioration, and varicose veins, bilateral knee disorder to include cartilage deterioration, bone grinding, and fatigue, bilateral ankle disorder to include edema, bilateral foot nerve damage to include the balls of the feet and the toes, brittle toenails, residuals of pneumonia, and dry skin. The claims were denied as not being related to service or any other basis.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection for PTSD and for increased ratings for his depressive disorder, lumbar strain with radiculitis, right tibia and fibula fracture residuals, and recurrent lumbar strain. The issue of TDIU is also pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left knee disability and therefore, service connection for a left knee disability is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of a left knee meniscal tear, mild laxity of the left knee, and limitation of extension of the left knee. The effective date was set at December 28, 2009, which is when the claim to reopen was filed.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is not related to service, and denied his claim for service connection. The right knee disability issue was remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its onset and aggravation during service.

The case is being remanded for scheduling a Board hearing by video conference. The Veteran's appeals regarding service connection and increased rating for psoriasis, as well as the BHA request, will be addressed after the hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and a contemporaneous examination following bilateral knee replacement surgery. The RO will review the claims file and re-adjudicate them.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for all issues listed, including the claims for initial ratings and service connection.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of the claimed conditions.,As such, the Board finds that service connection for low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and left ankle disability is denied.