Knee decisions — 2016

The Board found that the reduction in disability ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee instability or subluxation from 20 to 0 percent, effective October 1, 2010 through May 28, 2012, was not proper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability was caused by his service-connected left knee disability and thus, service connection is granted on a secondary basis.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The Veteran's recurrent ear infections are considered new and material evidence to reopen his claim, but he does not have a current disability of atrophy of the brain.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent based on limitation of motion, and he has separate 10 percent ratings for his left and right hand degenerative changes.

The Veteran's pes planus is service-connected and rated at 10 percent, effective October 21, 2004. The Board has granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis due to aggravation by his service-connected low back and bilateral knee disabilities.,The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating based on his combined 80 percent disability rating from his psychiatric, low back, and bilateral knee conditions. The Board has granted a TDIU rating in this case.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and service connection for a left knee disability is denied. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated as 20 percent prior to November 17, 2014 and 40 percent thereafter, which the Board found not sufficient to warrant higher ratings. Service connection for a left knee disability was granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with herniated disc T11 - T12.,The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the right knee disability claim is granted.

The Board has determined that there is a valid appeal regarding the left knee disability rating, and issues pertaining to the left knee surgical scar and leg length discrepancy. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left knee strain is dismissed. The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing. The specific conditions and issues are tendonitis of the left knee, lumbar strain, and a compensable disability rating for deviated nasal septum.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or contributed to by any service-connected condition, including his right below-the-knee amputation. The cause of death was cardiac arrest due to myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA examination and requests for further examinations of the Veteran's knees and elbows.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination, and because of issues regarding his effective date for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to technical issues with the November 2015 Board videoconference hearing. The case will be scheduled for a new Board videoconference hearing at the appropriate RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee degenerative joint disease were incurred during service, granting his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, but the knee disability is not. The case is being remanded for an addendum opinion regarding the knee disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disorder is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities were not incurred in service. The Board determined that there was no credible evidence supporting a direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals of the increased ratings for allergic rhinitis, patellar chondromalacia of the right knee, and gastritis and duodenitis.