Knee decisions — 2016

The Board found no current left knee disability and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his bilateral knee conditions. The Board grants special monthly compensation based on this finding.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty or service-connected laceration scar, right lower leg. Therefore, service connection for a left knee disability was denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteochondritis dissecans and patellar dislocation, has been rated at 10 percent since May 1, 2009. The rating is based on limitation of motion (flexion to 110 degrees) and instability (mild subluxation).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of bilateral knees did not manifest during service or for many years thereafter, and is otherwise unrelated to service. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's preexisting left knee disorder clearly and unmistakably existed prior to his active military service, and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, service connection for a left knee disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of the knees are related to his military service, with the exception that the hearing loss is considered a type of disability presumed due to noise exposure. The knee disability is not considered presumptively related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable or in need of aid and attendance, thus his claims for TDIU and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records, schedule VA examinations, and determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for right and left knee disabilities are granted, both effective December 23, 1989.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral knee pain and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD have been withdrawn. The claim for increased rating for a back disability is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his bilateral knee disabilities and entitlement to TDIU due to inadequate examination reports, incomplete development of records, and potential interrelatedness with other issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion from an appropriately qualified physician to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's knee disabilities were rated at 10 percent each before the Veteran underwent total knee replacement surgery in 2013 and 2014 respectively. After the surgeries, his knees are currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back disability including arthritis that is related to service, and thus cannot be granted service connection for this condition.,Similarly, the Board has found no evidence of a current left knee disability including arthritis that can be attributed to service. The Veteran's current left knee disabilities are presumed to have developed post-service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and he was granted a separate compensable rating for left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy. The appeal related to these issues has been resolved in the Veteran's favor.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbar spine DDD and degenerative changes are related to service, granting service connection.,Service connection is granted for bilateral knee arthritis. The Board found no evidence linking this condition to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, left hip disability, and low back disability as secondary to his existing service-connected disabilities.