Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, residuals of a stroke, bilateral hearing loss, heart disorder, and left knee disorder are all service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and an increased rating of 40 percent for the right leg deep vein thrombosis with varicose veins, effective April 21, 2011.

The Veteran's maxillary sinusitis is rated at 30 percent, but not greater. The Veteran's right knee disability has not been manifested by limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or extension to 15 degree, even considering complaints of pain, nor has there been objective evidence of instability or dislocated semilunar cartilage.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is not related to her service or a service-connected condition, and denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee condition, post total knee replacement, has not been manifested by chronic residuals consisting of severely limited motion (to include as due to pain), severe weakness, ankylosis in flexion between 10 and 20 degrees, flexion limited to 45 degrees or less, extension limited to 10 degrees or more, or nonunion of the tibia or fibula with loose motion, requiring a brace. As such, his claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's right knee lateral meniscus tear and arthritis prior to October 2, 2014 are rated at a 10 percent disability level.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including consideration of the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) if the schedular criteria remain unmet.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU due to an increase in severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and to obtain any pertinent VA medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee degenerative arthritis was not manifest in service or to a degree of 10 percent within one year of separation and is unrelated to service. The Board also found no relationship between any current right or left shoulder disability, as shown by MRI reports from July 2014, and service.

The Veteran's wife has multiple disabling conditions that require the aid and attendance of another person, qualifying him for SMC benefits. The claims for service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, hypertension as secondary to PTSD, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as secondary to PTSD are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and will arrange for a video conference hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's right knee DJD and meniscus injury are rated at 10 percent effective October 14, 2011.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities, including pes cavus, plantar fasciitis, and degenerative joint disease with calcaneal spurs, are rated at 30 percent from April 8, 2011 to March 12, 2014. As of March 13, 2014, the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at 50 percent and his bilateral pes cavus is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 10 percent for left and right knee disabilities effective December 28, 2011. The Veteran's claims were pending prior to this decision.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and his right knee disability is also rated at 10 percent. Both conditions are rated under the criteria for arthritis with limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease. The issue of service connection for sinusitis is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and instability do not warrant ratings in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent for these conditions.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not service-connected as it does not appear to be related to his in-service noise exposure.,His cervical spine disability and left knee condition are not service-connected, with the most likely explanation being that they developed due to natural aging processes rather than service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for viral hepatitis and found that new and material evidence has been received. Service connection is granted for viral hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, left and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left and right arm/elbow tendonitis, bilateral hip disability (secondary to left knee injury), and back disability (secondary to left knee injury).

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's claimed disorders to his active duty service and determined that they are not related to service.