Knee decisions — 2017

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 11, 2008 for TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to insufficient evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable solely at that time.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied a separate compensable rating for left knee tendonitis based on limitation of motion, finding that the objective range of motion findings were not consistent with a compensable rating.

The Veteran's total right knee arthroplasty has been rated at 60 percent from May 1, 2012 to March 4, 2014 and as of May 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination and opinion regarding her employability, as well as obtaining recent VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and back disability are not service-connected, as there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to his active duty. The VA examiners found no causal relationship between the disabilities and either the in-service incidents or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left thigh gunshot wound is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and obtaining treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knees manifested with pain, extension to no less than 10 degrees and flexion greater than 45 degrees, even considering functional loss due to pain. As a result, he is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for either knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining private medical records from specific providers.

The Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest in active service or to a compensable degree within the first post-active service year, and such disability is not etiologically related to service. The Board finds that the evidence does not show that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss and/or left ear hearing loss are related to noise exposure in service.

The Board denied a separate compensable rating for instability of the left knee, finding that there was no evidence of subluxation or lateral instability after November 17, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot, back, and right knee disabilities. The VA examiner found that these conditions were less likely caused by or related to his military service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 20 percent since March 21, 2005.,The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 30 percent since March 21, 2005.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from October 14, 1997 through September 25, 2003, including on an extra-schedular basis prior to July 14, 2003.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not related to his military service or any of his service-connected disabilities.,His claims for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine and bilateral knee conditions are denied as the VA examinations were missed without good cause.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorders are not related to his active service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease and laxity are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling each. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation for either condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by pain and stiffness, was rated at 10 percent prior to April 12, 2012.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 40 percent, and his sarcoidosis is service-connected due to asbestos exposure in service.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service. The Veteran's complaints were not supported by objective medical findings.