Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for left foot arthritis, epistaxis (nose bleeds), right knee disability, and facial injury residuals were denied as there is no competent evidence of current diagnoses or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's preexisting right knee disability was aggravated by his active duty service. The psychiatric claim is being remanded due to lack of complete medical records.

The Veteran's arthritis of the feet is found to be secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder, and additional treatment records should be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and a need to obtain additional records. The issues of service connection for right knee disability, right hip disability as secondary to right knee disability, and back disability as secondary to right knee disability are being addressed.

The Board has remanded the claims due to additional development being necessary, including obtaining authorization for medical records and scheduling an orthopedic specialist's opinion regarding the Veteran's knee conditions.

The Veteran's skin cancer and heart condition are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing they began during or were aggravated by his active duty service. The right knee injury is also not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further development of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and medical opinion to address the nature and likely etiology of her left knee disorder and sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected conditions, including headaches with facial numbness, cervical spine DDD, thoracolumbar spine DDD, hemorrhoids, left knee chondromalacia, and right knee chondromalacia. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has restored the appellant's 50% disability rating for his service-connected left knee condition, effective March 1, 2012. The right knee issue remains unresolved and TDIU is pending.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current left hip disability and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left eye and right knee disabilities, to include as secondary to his service-connected conditions, were denied. The Board found no current disability for which service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability, which includes a torn anterior cruciate ligament and arthritis, has been rated at 10 percent since the effective date of service connection. The VA determined that his range of motion is not limited to a compensable degree and there is no evidence of instability or subluxation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, hip, knee, and back disabilities have been granted. The initial disability rating for chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, and fractured nasal septum has also been increased to 30 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by degenerative joint disease and meniscal injury, warranted a 10 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Codes 5010 (degenerative arthritis) and 5260 (limitation of flexion). The decision also addressed applicability of Diagnostic Codes 5258 and 5259 for knee cartilage issues but did not grant the requested increased rating.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome with patellofemoral joint space degenerative changes were not productive of actual or functional flexion limited to 45 degrees, actual or functional extension limited to 10 degrees, recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, ankylosis, dislocated cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint, removal of the semilunar cartilage, impairment of the tibia and fibula, or genu recurvatum. As such, his ratings for these conditions were denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot, ankle, and knee disorders as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The evidence did not show that a foot, ankle, or knee problem had existed continuously since service or was related to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and analysis to determine the appropriate disability rating for his cervical spine disability, including consideration of radiculopathy and other related conditions.

The Veteran's hepatitis B is rated at a 10 percent disability rating, effective from the date of claim. The Board has found that his bilateral ankle and knee conditions are less likely than not related to service.