Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right knee osteoarthritis contributed substantially or materially to cause his death from a cerebrovascular accident (CVA).

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and found that new and material evidence had not been received. The claims for increased ratings for right shoulder strain and lumbar strain remain pending.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-replacement surgery, is currently rated at 60 percent and the claim for higher ratings is denied.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for service connection of a left knee disability due to withdrawal by the Veteran's attorney. The claim for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the elbows, and degenerative arthritis of the knees as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee arthritis and instability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee fracture of tibial plateau with degenerative joint disease resulted in symptoms such as painful motion, but did not result in flexion limited to 30 degrees or less or extension limited to 15 degrees or less.,The Veteran was not experiencing severe postoperative residuals or immobilization of the left knee beyond January 31, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to July 2, 2009. The Board found that the evidence does not support his contention of inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, a rating in excess of 10 percent for left shoulder rotator cuff injury, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of right knee arthroscopy and chondromalacia patella. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, restrictive lung disability, and obstructive sleep apnea are not related to his service or any service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a bilateral knee disability, restrictive lung disability, and obstructive sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his left knee disability and migraines did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee instability is denied as the evidence does not show moderate or severe recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder was denied as the weight of evidence is against a finding of a nexus between any in-service event and his current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for traumatic loss of teeth numbers 7, 8 and 9 was also denied because the evidence does not support a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis and a total knee replacement, is not service-connected. The Veteran was also denied TDIU due to his inability to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been granted, but no new or increased evaluations are warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and left knee disability have been rated appropriately, but she is seeking higher ratings. The claim for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left hand disorder has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for left and right knee disabilities, headaches, stomach disability, and sleep apnea due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his left knee instability and status post total knee replacement. The case involves conflicting determinations by the RO and AMC regarding the assignment of separate disability ratings, which must be resolved before any final decision can be made.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 20 percent for his right knee disability effective May 12, 2010. He is also granted a separate staged disability rating of 20 percent from May 12, 2010 to September 26, 2016 and 10 percent thereafter.