Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, and the Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are likely the result of her active service, and the Board has granted service connection for both.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and a torn meniscus, has been rated at 30 percent since November 1, 2012. The Board denied an increased rating for the period prior to September 13, 2011, and did not find sufficient evidence to warrant a higher rating based on residual symptoms or ankylosis of the knee.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for post-traumatic headaches and right knee musculoligamentous strain was denied. The Board found that the maximum schedular rating for posttraumatic headaches is 50 percent, which aligns with the current evaluation.

The Board granted service connection for the residuals of a left eye injury and assigned an initial disability rating of 60 percent effective March 11, 2016. The Veteran's condition was characterized by incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks over the past 12 months.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition. However, it granted an increased rating of 20% for diabetes mellitus with retinopathy and cataracts prior to October 16, 2013.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder. The remaining claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of his right knee condition was granted, and he received a 60% rating. The appeals for an extended period of a temporary total rating due to convalescence needs and service connection for left knee disability were withdrawn.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by locking, painful motion, and effusion, warrants a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5258.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left knee disability, including a torn ACL. The case is being remanded to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current left knee disabilities and whether they are related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending appeals, including those for increased rating for PTSD, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Gulf War Syndrome-related conditions (including a bilateral knee condition, headaches, joint pain, a neurologic disorder, and a skin rash), and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for a sleep disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability, a left knee disability, and disabilities manifested by pain in the left ankle/foot and right ankle/foot (other than from the service-connected right foot drop).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disabilities were denied by the Board and remanded multiple times. The case is being returned to the Board for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the neck, back, hands, and knees as there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and his active duty service or any service-connected disabilities.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection is denied for sinusitis and a bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his left knee condition has been remanded due to the need for additional examination and testing. The case will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type 2 claim is pending. The RO denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability, right and left knee degenerative joint disease with chronic patellar tendonitis, and instability of the knees.,Service connection was granted for right and left knee degenerative joint disease with chronic patellar tendonitis, each rated at 10 percent effective April 13, 2009. The RO also granted separate 10 percent disability ratings for instability of each knee, effective May 4, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial evaluation and an earlier effective date for PTSD with insomnia was denied. The Board found that the criteria for total occupational and social impairment were not met, and thus, no higher rating could be assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee DJD was not incurred in service, related to service, or caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.