Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the nature, cause, and effect of any mental health disorder the Veteran may have had at the time of his death.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided was inadequate and remands the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to his active military service. The AOJ should also attempt to obtain updated medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected right total knee replacement is currently rated at 30 percent effective August 1, 2015. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disability, finding that it is not at least as likely as not related to his service-connected bilateral knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to service-connected disabilities from September 22, 2011, to March 3, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for himself and requires the regular aid and attendance of another person, resulting in a grant of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle or left knee disability that is attributable to service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.,His current rating for diabetes mellitus remains at 20% due to the absence of a regulation of activities.

The Veteran's right total knee replacement has not resulted in chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness, and his current range of motion is limited to 5 degrees of extension. The Board denied an increased rating for the right knee disability as well as a TDIU prior to July 25, 2014.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected conditions. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the current left knee disability is linked to military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 30 percent from June 30, 2007 to August 28, 2008. He also received a separate rating of 20 percent for his right knee cartilage dislocation with locking and pain. The Board granted TDIU effective July 29, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder osteoarthritis is related to an injury sustained during active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, the maximum available under DC 5261. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right leg condition, back condition, and bilateral knee condition. The evidence submitted since the final denial does not meet the criteria to be considered new and material.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various joint conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the back, neck, shoulders, knees, hips, ankles, and elbows/arms are granted. The specific diagnoses include PTSD, right ankle condition, degenerative arthritis of the left shoulder, bilateral knee conditions, bilateral hip conditions, bilateral ankle conditions, and a left elbow/arm condition.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted. The claims of service connection for a right hip condition, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and low back condition were both reopened due to new evidence received since the July 1998 rating decision. However, the status of his bilateral pes planus disability remains unclear.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for right knee disability as not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a right hip disability and left leg amputation below the knee, finding that his left leg amputation was not causally related to his active service or any event therein. The rating for his right knee DJD with chondromalacia and left knee DJD with chondromalacia were also denied.