Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and lumbar spine disabilities, diagnosed to include osteoarthritis. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and coronary artery disease are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot/toe disabilities, right hip disability, left hip disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left nephrectomy with scar. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's representative suggested an addendum opinion regarding his GERD claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to his period of active service, and the Board finds service connection for tinnitus is warranted.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including arthritis and patellofemoral syndrome, are related to his service. However, the residuals of a Baker's cyst on the left knee is not related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric, right knee, and left knee disabilities were not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pseudofolliculitis barbae, acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral knee and hearing loss, burn scar disability, obstructive sleep apnea, TBI, high blood pressure, back disability, and tinnitus. The effective date for the grant of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was not earlier than September 27, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, specifically private treatment records and VA treatment medical records. The case will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to her service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a supplemental VA medical opinion.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, is not related to his active service. The in-service complaint of knee pain was treated conservatively and resolved without residuals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are pending. The rating for TBI has been granted, but the status of the issues related to migraine headaches and right knee disability is unclear.

The Veteran's right hip and bilateral knee disabilities were not found to be related to his service or a service-connected disability. The appeal for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for the right leg disability was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied as his right knee conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized as right knee strain, has been evaluated at a 20 percent rating based on limitation of flexion. The current evidence does not support a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including strain and degenerative joint disease with meniscal tear, was granted service connection. The initial rating of 10% prior to May 19, 2015, and a 20% rating thereafter for the period from May 19, 2015, were assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability and left knee disability. The claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active duty service and have therefore denied both claims.