Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disability that is related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obesity, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus type I, hypertension, lumbar spine strain, and right knee DJD are proximately due to his service-connected lower extremity disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left knee and right ankle disabilities are not related to his service, and therefore denied these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining non-electronic VA records from the Central Arkansas Healthcare System and requesting an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the October 2013 VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee and right great toe disabilities have been denied. The criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent for any of these conditions were not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, left lower leg, and left knee disorders are not service-connected as they were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus was denied as the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim. The maximum schedular rating has been assigned.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death before a decision could be made on the merits of the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development and examination, including an opinion on whether his knee disorders pre-existed service or were aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and osteoarthritis of the left knee was granted, with a 10 percent rating assigned for bilateral pes planus effective May 12, 2004. The 30 percent rating for left knee disability was also granted effective July 1, 2014.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle/right leg disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The evidence presented is sufficient to raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee tricompartmental arthritis is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his left knee disability, including a new VA examination and retrieval of all treatment records from the Nashville VAMC.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and post-service medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee arthroplasty, is currently rated at 60 percent effective April 30, 2012. The Board finds that the criteria for a 60 percent rating have been met.

The Veteran's severe osteoarthritis of the right knee is currently rated at 30 percent, and his instability of the right knee is rated at 10 percent. The current evaluations are appropriate based on the criteria for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new examination to address the etiology of his sleep apnea and whether it is secondary to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine for an 80 percent rating and render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right knee and leg disorder is not deemed to be caused by VA care or treatment, as the condition was due to age-related arthritis aggravated by his occupation. Therefore, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for this additional disability is denied.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his disabilities has been established, allowing him to receive special monthly pension.