Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee Osgood-Schlatter's disease with osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to her military service.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the left and right knees have been rated at 10 percent each, which is the minimum rating available under Diagnostic Codes 5010-5260. The VA has not granted a higher evaluation for these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease (DJD), is found to be proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability. The Board grants the claim for service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the appellant's service in 1967 or 1968 and to obtain any relevant medical records. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities other than calluses, as well as his lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities. These conditions are deemed to have been incurred during service due to their progression over time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip replacement, right knee replacement, right leg disability, and gout of both feet are not related to active service or any incident thereof, including as due to service-connected residuals of frostbite of both feet.

The Veteran's right foot injury has been rated as moderately severe, and the right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent. The Veteran requested to withdraw her appeal for several conditions, including residuals of pelvis and/or hip injuries, poikilothermal or cold intolerance, loss of use of buttocks, neurogenic bowel, sexual dysfunction, and soft tissue trauma.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for back, left knee, right knee, bilateral shoulder, and neck disabilities due to new evidence received since the final denial in September 2011. The appellant's current disabilities are considered to be related to his parachute jumps during active service.,Affording the appellant the benefit of doubt, the Board finds that each of the appellant's claimed disabilities (back, left knee, right knee, bilateral shoulder, and neck) were caused by his parachute jumps during active service.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss effective February 25, 2009. The Veteran's claim for service connection of his left knee disability is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, right knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are not service-connected as they do not have a direct link to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities are currently rated at 20% each, but the Board has determined that increased ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for service connection of left knee instability. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or earlier effective dates based on the evidence of record.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosed osteoarthritis in bilateral knees is not related to service and thus denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent for degenerative arthritis and a separate 20 percent rating for instability since February 7, 2017. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent has been granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea and bilateral knee disability are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions, specifically PTSD for sleep apnea and pes planus for knee issues. The Veteran is already receiving the maximum available rating for his pes planus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disorders as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his service-connected left knee disabilities and whether any current back or hip conditions are related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right knee disability. The effective date for the award of special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance is set at July 8, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability will be reconsidered.