Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of recent medical evidence and to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, including Osgood-Schlatter disease.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions and erectile dysfunction, as well as their relationship to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claims for PTSD, hypertension, and right shoulder disability. The Veteran's current conditions are presumed to be related to service due to their onset within one year of discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be provided with additional medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his psychiatric disorder, right hip disorder, and right knee disorder. The case is remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for tinnitus, service connection for cellulitis of the knees, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Veteran withdrew his claim for cellulitis of the knees during a hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on additional functional loss or instability.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their service-connected manifestations. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of at least one 10 percent disability rating for each knee, with separate ratings for limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated based on limitation of motion, but the evidence does not support a higher rating for either knee prior to November 15, 2011 or in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's right knee internal derangement has been granted an initial noncompensable evaluation. Service connection for chloracne (claimed as a skin disability) due to herbicide exposure is also granted.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia patella is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a left knee disorder. The Veteran's previous denial of reopening was based on lack of evidence, but additional evidence received since then does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which include PTSD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right knee internal derangement, and left knee arthritis. The Veteran's overall picture indicates that he needs constant supervision due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for all issues, including service connection for a sleep disorder.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for cartilage, semilunar dislocated in the right knee and remanded the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for DJD of the Right Knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination by an orthopedic specialist to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed left knee and ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination and conflicting opinions on service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to his service-connected PTSD. The issue of DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is dismissed as moot.

The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression/anxiety, manifested by cold sweats, had its onset in service. The bilateral foot disability (pes planus and plantar fasciitis) was not incurred or aggravated by active service. The bilateral knee disability was not incurred in service, nor is it due to a service-connected disability. The hearing loss disability of either ear was not incurred in service. Tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of acne vulgaris, bilateral shoulder disorder, clavicle disorder, or bilateral knee disorder. The Board finds that service connection is denied for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as upper back and neck disabilities due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.