Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease (DJD), was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current right knee disorder began during or was otherwise caused by his military service, and therefore grants service connection for a right knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and left knee disability have been reopened. The claim for increased rating of right tibia fracture remains unresolved.,There is no current evidence of a left knee disability, but the Veteran has reported pain in his left knee. Service connection cannot be granted as there is no diagnosed condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and examinations for his service-connected foot and knee disabilities, as well as hypertension. The goal is to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent, and his left knee disability is rated at 10 percent. The Board finds no basis to grant higher ratings for either condition based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran asserts that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD, right knee disability, low back disability, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the left arm. The Board finds it necessary to remand the claim for a 'combined effects' medical opinion in order to sufficiently address the issue on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, and for increased ratings for his right shoulder disability and right knee degenerative arthritis were denied. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's rheumatic heart disease has been rated at 60 percent since November 21, 2000. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of symptoms consistent with chronic congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an EF below 30%. However, beginning on March 22, 2017, the Veteran's service-connected rheumatic heart disability prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an addendum opinion regarding his service connection claims.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for additional examination and development due to assertions of increased severity since the last VA examination.

The Board has determined that the issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) was not raised by the Veteran or the record as part of his appeal for increased evaluations for bilateral pes planus with calluses. As such, the Board lacks jurisdiction over this matter and refers it to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine herniated disc status post fusion is rated at 20 percent since April 4, 2008. The Board granted a higher initial rating for the cervical spine disability from April 4, 2008 to present.

The Veteran's initial ratings for subluxation of the patella in both knees have been granted, but she now claims her conditions have worsened and seeks higher ratings. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess her current level of disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's hallux valgus was not related to service or his service-connected plantar fasciitis, and denied this claim.,For the right knee disability, the Board noted there is no evidence of a right knee injury in service. The examiner opined that the current arthralgia is less likely than not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral foot condition (specifically, plantar fasciitis).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability. The issue will be reconsidered after the examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and scheduling a new VA examination to address his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not combine to preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right knee disorder, including his right hip and left thigh disabilities, has been rated at 20 percent since July 25, 2008. The current rating adequately reflects the limitation of motion in the right knee.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding no evidence of such conditions during active duty or within one year post-service. However, the Veteran's current bilateral foot fungus condition (onychomycosis) is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,Service connection was granted for onychomycosis based on its aggravation by a pre-existing condition (diabetes mellitus).