Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a vocational rehabilitation folder. The Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD with depression, left knee disability, and TDIU are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's left knee injury, status post anterior cruciate ligament repair, has been manifested by flexion functionally limited to 130 degrees with objective evidence of pain and normal extension. The Veteran is not service connected for any meniscal problems in his left knee. The Board finds that the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent are not met.

The Veteran's right knee condition was granted a 30 percent rating from April 29, 2012. Prior to that date, the claim for an increased rating remained at 10 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the denial of service connection for both a right knee and right ankle disability.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including arthritis, were rated at 20 percent prior to April 28, 2009. The appeal is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding hearing requests and will schedule a videoconference hearing for the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease was granted, effective October 6, 1971.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disorder, including his right hip replacement, is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The Veteran's right hip disorder was not incurred in active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted an evaluation of 30 percent prior to August 1, 2007 and a 60 percent evaluation beginning October 1, 2008. The left knee disability was granted a 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling each. The Board finds that the evidence is against a finding of entitlement to higher ratings based on additional limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, leg, and vision disabilities. The evidence does not establish a current disability in any of these conditions that is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, sleep apnea (secondary to herbicide exposure), an irregular heartbeat, and hypertension. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims for bilateral hearing loss and nervous disorder.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted initial noncompensable ratings, but the Board finds that compensable ratings are warranted based on PROM findings showing limitation of extension.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are not service-connected as they did not arise during or within one year of active military service, and there is no causal relationship between the current conditions and his service.,The Veteran has a current respiratory disability, asthma, which is etiologically related to his extended exposure to coal-burning stoves during military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees.,Service connection is also granted for migraine headaches as secondary to service-connected PTSD, fibromyalgia, and/or degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine with spinal stenosis. Service connection is also granted for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development due to issues with the previous decision denying TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a grant of special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent from March 1, 2002 for right knee osteoarthritis, status post total right knee arthroplasty to the VA Appeals Management Center (AMC) for further action.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder also claimed as secondary to the service connected chronic gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux disease, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The Veteran's claims were not granted.