Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, but denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder. The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is likely caused by carrying heavy equipment and walking on rocky terrain while in combat in Iraq.

The Veteran's right knee disability was found to meet the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation from September 26, 2006 to June 3, 2010. From June 3, 2010, his disability warranted a combined 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion and extension. The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability did not render him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fibromyalgia, which is claimed as pain affecting multiple joints including hips, knees, shoulders, and the cervical spine, is etiologically related to service in the Persian Gulf War. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no medical evidence establishing a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased evaluations of 20 percent each, effective from the date of the June 2012 Board decision.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right knee, left knee, and right hip osteoarthritis have been granted at 10 percent each. The Veteran is also rated separately for limitation of extension in the right hip (rated as a separate condition). The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent, with no higher rating due to lack of ankylosis or other specific criteria being met. The Veteran's left lower sciatic nerve neuralgia has not warranted a higher initial evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the left knee and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disorders. The Veteran's hyperthyroidism, sleep apnea, migraine headaches, right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, right foot disorder, myopia, swelling of the left testicle, and tinea versicolor are all found to be related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold minimum rating requirements and that he cannot be considered unemployable solely based on these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for heart disease, residuals of gallstone surgery, hypertension, kidney condition, left knee disability, and prostate condition. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an examination, as well as a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.,It was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's right knee sprain with instability and left knee sprain with instability increased to a 10 percent disability rating prior to November 24, 2008.,The Veteran's left osteoarthritis acromioclavicular joint with subacromial bursitis is manifested by limitation of motion at shoulder level but not anklyosis. The effective date for the 10 percent rating remains unchanged as it was granted on July 10, 2009.,The Veteran's Achilles tendonitis with osteoarthritis, right ankle and left ankle are both currently rated at 10 percent and have no evidence of ankylosis or other significant impairment. The effective date for the 10 percent ratings remains unchanged as they were granted on July 10, 2009.,For the entirety of the period on appeal, the Veteran's PTSD is manifested by occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the case.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and determined that his left knee disorder is related to service, granting service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and remanded the underlying issue due to the need for additional development.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's COPD, low back disorder, or arthritis of the right knee to his military service. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, as secondary to his right knee pain, post-operative; and for an increased rating for his right knee pain are being remanded. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a separate, chronic right knee disability that began during or is otherwise related to his active duty service, including his service-connected back disability. Therefore, he cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not related to his service-connected bilateral hip disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, to include arthritis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was also denied as there is no evidence of record linking these conditions to service.