Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee, and chronic sinusitis were denied as there is no evidence of one or two incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment, or three to six non-incapacitating episodes per year of sinusitis characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting.

The Veteran's service-connected keratosis/porokeratosis, nasal congestions/chronic sinusitis, and previously service-connected body aches/polyarthralgia were granted with effective dates of December 1, 2008. The right elbow arthritis was rated at 30 percent disabling from December 2, 2015.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability had its onset in service, is related to service, or was caused or aggravated by his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations to evaluate the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities and completing a Social and Industrial Survey.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of right hernia repair with iliohypogastric or ilioinguinal neuralgia was denied as the evidence did not show severe to complete paralysis. The inguinal hernia claim was granted and rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent, and the claim for a higher rating has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of service dates and obtaining relevant medical records. The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are still under consideration.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal in a March 2017 statement, which included her name and case number.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the left knee, is related to his military service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to difficulties in locating the Veteran and scheduling a hearing. The Veteran's current address must be verified, and he is reminded of his duty to keep VA informed of any changes in his address.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is caused by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a medical nexus between the Veteran's current left knee disorder and his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a bilateral knee condition that he asserts began in service and has continued since. The case is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development, including obtaining deck logs from USS Magoffin and USS Pickaway, scheduling a VA examination, and considering all submitted evidence.

The Veteran's request for service connection for patellofemoral syndrome, left knee is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for lower back pain with arthritis, to include as secondary to service-connected right total knee replacement; postoperative excision, osteochondroma, right femur; residuals gunshot wound right thigh, MG XIII-XIV; and scars residual gunshot wound right thigh.

The Veteran's May 2010 revision of a right total knee replacement was treatment for his service-connected right knee disability and required convalescence of at least one month, qualifying him for a temporary total rating.

The Board found no evidence of a right or left knee disorder during service, and the Veteran's current knee disorders are not related to his military service.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss was granted but with a non-compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was diagnosed during service and is presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for service connection.,The Veteran has a combined disability rating of 80% due to his service-connected disabilities, which qualifies him for TDIU consideration. After review of his employment history and current functional limitations, the Board finds that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.