Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and needs further development before a final decision can be made on the initial rating for left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disorders were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service, or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to June 26, 2014 and increased to 30 percent after that date. The Board found the evidence did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disabilities of the right knee, left ankle, and right ankle are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The low back disability is not shown by the evidence to be etiologically related to his active military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, and there are no allegations of errors of fact or law for appellate consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his lower back strain and bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome. The case will be readjudicated after this development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, asthma, left shoulder disorder, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU are met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is attributable to service, and thus grants service connection for a right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee chondromalacia is aggravated by her service-connected right knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral tinnitus is related to noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The other issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, including a TBI and related headaches.

The Veteran's appeal was timely perfected, and the Board has jurisdiction to address all issues related to service connection for various conditions. The right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury was denied. The initial rating and compensable rating claims for left knee disability and scars were granted, but the Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings.

The Veteran's right knee DJD is not considered to have been incurred or aggravated by service, and it is less likely than not related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a left knee disorder related to service and his tinea cruris has not affected five percent of his body or required systemic therapy, thus denying both claims.

The Veteran's left knee disability is manifested by extension limited to 30 degrees, pain, instability, swelling, tenderness, weakness, decreased endurance, fatigability, incoordination, and similar problems. The Board finds the April 2014 VA examination report and December 2014 addendum adequate for rating purposes.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease has been productive of limitation of extension limited to 25 degrees, warranting a separate 30 percent rating. The Veteran's left knee degenerative changes have not more nearly approximated flexion limited to 15 degrees.

The Veteran's claimed right knee, left ankle, left foot, and left wrist disabilities were not incurred in service and are not otherwise etiologically related to service. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and left knee disability have been reopened. However, the Board has determined that there is no evidence to support these claims based on active duty or National Guard service.