Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. He will also be scheduled for examinations to address the nature of his cervical spine disorder, right knee replacement with post-traumatic arthritis, lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and stenosis, status-post laminectomy, discectomy, and fusion, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that new evidence supports the original claim of service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased initial evaluations for degenerative arthritis in the left and right knees prior to a decision by the Board.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his right knee disability is granted, with the extension of the temporary total rating and separate rating for scars.

The Veteran's claims for high cholesterol, arthritis (excluding of the left hand and left index finger), lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and left knee disorder are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder and granted it. The claims for left knee disability and low back disability are inextricably intertwined with the right knee claim and must also be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left and right knee disabilities have been denied as it is not factually ascertainable that the conditions met the schedular criteria prior to July 13, 2016.,The claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Veteran testified in support of this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee patellar tendonitis did not have its onset in or is otherwise related to his service, and therefore denied service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for left foot disability, right foot disability, and right leg disability were dismissed. The Board granted service connection for left knee strain and degenerative joint disease, as well as lumbar degenerative disk disease and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease and instability have been rated at 10 percent since the appeal period began, with a separate noncompensable rating for limitation of flexion. The Veteran has demonstrated mild instability throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral knee and low back disabilities, alleging that these conditions are related to his military service. The Board has ordered additional development of the claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition. However, after reviewing all available evidence, including VA medical records and lay statements, the Board concludes that there is no showing of arthritis in the Veteran's right knee within one year following separation from active service, thus precluding application of the presumptive provisions for arthritis. The Board also finds that the Veteran's current statements regarding his knee condition are inconsistent with other evidence of record and therefore lacks credibility. As a result, the claim for service connection for a right knee condition is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his bilateral knee and ankle disorders as well as his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee chondromalacia have been rated at 10 percent each, with no additional evaluations granted for instability or painful motion.

The Board found no evidence of direct service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee and low back conditions, as her current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection. The medical opinions provided by VA examiners were consistent in their conclusion that there is no link between the Veteran's current conditions and her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the service-connected back disability, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's post-operative partial right knee replacement symptoms have been rated at 60 percent since February 1, 2017. The Board found that the highest schedular rating available for his service-connected right knee disability is a 60 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities. The case is now pending before the RO.

The Veteran's service-connected osteochondritis dissecans of the left knee is currently rated at 10 percent, and there is no evidence showing that his disability warrants a higher rating.

The Board finds that there is no current evidence of a bilateral knee disability, and thus the criteria for service connection are not met.