Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is incurred during military service and granted service connection for this condition. The left leg disability, including a left knee disability, remains on appeal as there is no clear evidence of its onset or relationship to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and lumbosacral strain due to new evidence submitted since the May 1979 RO decision. The cervical spine disability is denied as it cannot be distinguished from PTSD, which precludes separate evaluations. Service connection for hypertension is denied as there was no service connection established. The Veteran's TBI is rated at 100% disabling concurrently with his PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for stiffness of the hips and knees, a low back disability, increased evaluations for trench foot disabilities, and an increased evaluation for chronic cough. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mood disorder, right femur/knee condition, left hip condition, back condition, and left knee condition, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of July 1, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hip, right knee, and left wrist disorders are not related to service or a service-connected disability. The hypertension was rated at 10% but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying periods of service. The Veteran is also scheduled to undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee is currently rated at 10 percent for post-operative ACL repair and arthritis, but the appeal was denied for a higher rating. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for symptomatic residuals of meniscectomy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar/thoracic spine and bilateral knee disorders are not related to her service-connected pes planus, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's right knee DJD has been granted a separate evaluation of 10 percent, and no higher. The issue of an increased evaluation for PTSD is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the adequacy of the examination and opinion provided, requiring a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and assigned a disability rating of 20 percent. The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, with separate ratings for lateral instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current left shoulder or right knee disabilities, and his claim for presbyopia is denied as it is considered a congenital defect.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease and meniscal tears, has been granted a separate 20% rating effective June 5, 2017. The 10% rating for painful motion of the right knee remains in effect.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted service connection with a 10% disability rating each.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and development of records. The Veteran's increased ratings for his left knee disabilities and TDIU claim are pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the VA examiner regarding whether his current conditions are related to his military service and considering the combat presumption.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for right total knee replacement and service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of an increased rating or service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of a neck condition and dystonia during his February 2017 Board hearing. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee and hip conditions are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected right ankle condition.