Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals at his regional office via videoconference. The issues are related to rating evaluations for chronic conjunctivitis and right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, and neck disabilities are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and attempting to obtain SSA and Workers' Compensation records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for his lower back and right knee conditions are being reviewed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disorder is not related to her service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right knee disability was granted, with the effective date being January 18, 2012. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for dislocation of the right patella and has separate ratings for limitation of flexion.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the service connection claims for bilateral leg and knee disabilities, characterized by swelling, secondary to service-connected pes planus. As such, the Board dismisses these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability did not manifest in service, arthritis was not shown within the one year presumptive period, and a current left knee disability is unrelated to service. The claim for service connection for a left knee disability is therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip and knee disabilities, as well as a temporary total evaluation based on the need for convalescence following right hip replacement surgery, are all denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a right ankle or right knee disability during service, and the medical opinions do not support a finding that these disabilities are related to service-connected pes planus. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of the claimed disabilities and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, schizophrenia, and memory loss. The claims for bilateral ankle arthralgias, bilateral knee arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a right leg sprain, and increased evaluations for PTSD and right knee arthritis were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a separate current diagnosis of a right leg disability distinct from his already service-connected right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's right knee instability was found to have moderate levels of subluxation and/or instability, which is consistent with his current 20% disability rating. The evidence did not show an increase in severity that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the knees status post total knee replacement is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Veteran's heart disorder is service connected as secondary to his service-connected GERD.,The Veteran's right knee and left ankle disorders are service connected as secondary to his service-connected left foot and left knee disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were not established, and thus denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability has prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since his last job at Home Depot, due to the inability to lift heavy objects, walk/stand for long periods of time, and negotiate stairs and ladders.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for his right knee disability prior to September 12, 2013 have been granted. The current rating is 30 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee did not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is service-connected, as it began during his active duty.,Regarding the left knee and shoulder disabilities, there is no evidence to support their occurrence or connection to service.