Knee decisions — 2016

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to his service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the claim of service connection for right knee disability cannot be reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran does not have a current left knee disability, and his PTSD is currently rated as appropriate.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as his right hip condition, have been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and medical opinion are inadequate, and thus a remand is necessary to afford the Veteran another VA examination in order to obtain an adequate examination and medical opinion regarding his bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left hand numbness, and cervical spine disabilities did not have onset during service or are not caused by service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the RO increased his back disability rating to 20 percent effective October 3, 2011. The Veteran was not granted any other benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an addendum medical opinion from an orthopedist regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the inextricability of the right knee disabilities claim with other pending claims, and will be handled in an expeditious manner.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employability and associating all outstanding VA treatment records with the claims file.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability other than chronic gastritis, to include IBS, and for degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee. The Veteran is entitled to an SOC regarding his claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, variously diagnosed as anterior cruciate ligament repair; patellofemoral syndrome; torn medial meniscus; septic joint-post-operative; and patella-femoral joint injury, had its onset during military service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's post TKR left knee disability is manifested by no more than intermediate weakness and pain, with flexion to at least 90 degrees and extension full. The Board finds that a rating in excess of 30 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for glaucoma, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bilateral knee arthritis and rheumatism, heart disability, and sinusitis are denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or a relationship to service.,The Veteran's current hypertension condition is not related to his service. The Board finds that the weight of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current heart conditions (coronary artery disease and hypertensive cardiovascular disease) are related to service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus claim is denied as there is no in-service incurrence or relationship to service. Additionally, he is not entitled to presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.,Bilateral knee arthritis and rheumatism claims are denied as the Veteran did not have an in-service injury or disease that would support a grant of service connection. The Board also finds no evidence of continuity of symptomatology between his current condition and service.,The Veteran's heart disability (coronary artery disease and hypertensive cardiovascular disease) claim is denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or relationship to service. Additionally, the weight of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's sinusitis claim is granted as it is secondary to his service-connected rhinitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee condition, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities manifested by painful motion from September 4, 2009 to May 11, 2014. A 10 percent rating is granted for patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees during this period.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left and right knee disabilities, left and right foot disabilities, and left and right ankle disabilities have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The VA examinations did not find any current diagnoses of the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome and patellofemoral chondromalacia, as well as his right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, were found to have their onset during service. The Board granted the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for various musculoskeletal disorders, and further examination is needed as the Veteran is currently incarcerated.