Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability, including testing for pain and functional loss during flare-ups. The claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his claim for higher ratings and earlier effective dates are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of shin splints or knee disability, and thus service connection cannot be granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including back, hip, shoulder, knee, prostate cancer, colon cancer, kidney condition, bladder condition, hypertension, head injury from dizziness, headaches, and depression have been denied. The left hand scar is rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support service connection for schizophrenia, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, or osteoarthritis of the left knee. The Veteran's claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete VA treatment records and a need for additional medical opinions regarding his service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, is not service-connected due to a pre-existing condition noted at entrance into service. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was also denied as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is etiologically related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain and left knee disability prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to December 13, 2004.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and increased disability ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee ACL repair with allograft warrants a rating of 10 percent prior to September 24, 2013. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for his service-connected right knee instability from December 9, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee strain is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for depression, right knee disability, and lumbar spine DJD due to further development being necessary.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left knee conditions and adjustment disorder with depressed mood, prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from October 1, 2006 through June 14, 2016 and at 70 percent from June 15, 2016. The TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The issue of service connection for a psychiatric disability, claimed as secondary to service-connected disease or injury, is referred to the AOJ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right eye, bilateral hip, and right knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preexisting conditions are presumed to have existed prior to service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left knee condition and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his degenerative arthritis, left knee.