Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, right ankle disability, and hemorrhoids are all service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, characterized as dislocated semilunar lunar cartilage with episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint, was not shown to warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent prior to July 19, 2016. The separate compensable evaluation for right knee surgical scars was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, including his meniscectomy in 2009, is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the claim for service connection for blood clots. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected cervical spine, right knee, and surgical scars disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a disability under VA regulations. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his TDIU and DEA benefits, left him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board found that he met the criteria for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for scheduling a Board hearing. The issue at hand is whether he should receive an extension of his temporary total rating due to convalescence from his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's left and right knee patellofemoral syndromes are rated at 20 percent each, reflecting moderate disability with painful motion, swelling, instability, and limited range of motion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a pending request for a DRO hearing. The issues include increased ratings for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and PTSD; service connection claims for right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder existed prior to service and was not aggravated by military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective from June 1, 2012. The issue of TDIU for the period from July 1, 2010 to April 4, 2011 is referred to the Director of Compensation Service for an extraschedular determination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left lower extremity disability did not have its onset in service and is not related to his active military service, including his service-connected right ankle disability.,The Veteran does not have any diagnosed collarbone or chest condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limited extension and normal flexion, warrants a 40 percent rating for the period prior to February 9, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his current hearing acuity. The RO will also review the claims file and issue a statement of the case regarding higher initial disability ratings for disabilities of both knees and for his left little finger, as well as earlier effective dates for the grants.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability did not have its onset in active service or within one year thereafter and is not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is not related to service, and his right lower extremity disability does not appear to be directly related to service.,Service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions cannot be granted as there is no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and service.