Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis, effective from March 14, 2017. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to the decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected right knee total knee arthroplasty is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and attempting to obtain records from a private orthopedic clinic. The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities will be examined to determine their likely etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA and private medical records, as well as a new VA examination of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for various service-connected disabilities has been withdrawn. The Veteran is now granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) from June 29, 2010 to February 26, 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for patellofemoral joint syndrome of both knees and lumbar spine disability, finding no in-service injury or disease involving his knees. The Board also found that there is insufficient competent medical evidence to establish a nexus between his current knee conditions and his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including residual symptoms of effusion from removal of semilunar cartilage and painful limitation of motion, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted for the period on appeal.

The Veteran's back disability is not related to his military service and was not caused by or aggravated by his service connected pes planus. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dysthymia and anxiety disorder, bilateral pes planus, tension headaches, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and degenerative joint disease of the left knee, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.,The Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities that are rated at 100% combined, meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, a skin disability, a left knee disability, stable angina, prostate disability, heart disability other than stable angina (includes cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and hypertensive heart disease), hypertension, and right knee disability. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is established based on his service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in a previous VA examination and because the Veteran may have received treatment from an employee at Snell Prosthetic and Orthotic Laboratory. The case is now being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and his Vocational Rehabilitation folder. The claims for increased rating and TDIU will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's combined disability rating has been consistently at 80 percent since March 9, 2006. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Board has dismissed the issues of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to a full grant of benefits sought on appeal with respect to those issues.,Service connection was granted for bilateral knee disability, but the Veteran's current bilateral foot disability is not supported by evidence showing it is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee, hip, foot, and sleep apnea disabilities are not service-connected as they were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated based on the criteria for limitation of motion. A rating in excess of 10 percent is granted for limitation of extension of both knees from January 13, 2012 to October 21, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right knee and bilateral shoulder disabilities are not service-connected as they are considered to be separate from his already service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations, incomplete treatment records, and other procedural issues.

The VA determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to his service or service-connected left total knee replacement, and therefore denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral knee strain, and left knee degenerative arthritis are etiologically related to his period of active service and to his service-connected bilateral shin splints. As such, the criteria for service connection have been met.