Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased rating claims have been denied. The Board found no current bilateral hearing loss disability, and the low back disability was not shown to be related to service or due to any other compensable factor.

The Board finds that the reduction from a 20 percent to a 0 percent disability rating for right knee instability, effective November 1, 2009, was proper based on evidence showing improvement in the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and acquired psychiatric disorders. The right knee disability claim was also denied. Service connection is not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that none of the Veteran's claimed disabilities began during service or are related to service in any other way.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, characterized by pain and mild degenerative changes, did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and granted a rating of 30 percent for right total knee replacement, effective from April 2003 to June 1, 2004. The Veteran's left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service records and to provide a VA examination for his claimed psychiatric, knee, and low back disorders.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees and a low back disability as secondary to bilateral knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right hand neurological disability has not improved to warrant a restoration of the 100% rating. The RO reduced the prestabilization rating, and the current ratings for the right knee and low back disabilities do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board finds that the cause of the Veteran's death was of service origin and thus, service connection is warranted for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities did not have their onset during active duty service or are otherwise etiologically related to such service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding the initial disability ratings for her low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for right knee disability due to new evidence and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims for higher initial ratings for right knee status post arthroscopy, GERD, and hemorrhoids are also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of right knee patellofemoral syndrome is related to his active military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 18, 2011 for the award of a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's combined disability rating was at least 70% from that date.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any right knee disability, including arthritis and residuals of a meniscal tear. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, as well as his left shoulder disability are all found to be related to service.,For the ankle disabilities, the Veteran's right ankle gout is found to have preexisted service.

The evidence does not support a finding of a current skin disability or right knee sprain during the pendency of the claim. The Board finds that service connection for these conditions is denied.