Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disabilities, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, are service-connected. The right knee disability claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee patellar bursitis has been manifested by flexion of at least 90 degrees and extension of at least 5 degrees; slight instability has not been demonstrated. The criteria for an initial rating higher than 10 percent have not been met.

The Board has granted service connection for patellar tendonitis of the right knee and pes cavus of the right foot. Service connection is also granted for lumbar degenerative disc disease, claimed as a lower back condition, but further development is needed due to an incomplete medical record.

The Veteran's protein deficiency syndrome has been denied. The effective dates for service connection of left knee meniscus tear and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease have also been denied as they are not earlier than the date claims were filed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his satisfaction with the current TDIU rating and he is no longer seeking an increased evaluation for his left knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is found to be proximately due or the result of his service-connected low back disability and associated left leg radiculopathy, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that they were not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability and any related scars.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of newly submitted evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by postoperative residuals with exostosis, is rated at 10 percent prior to November 1, 2015 and at 30 percent as of that date. The Board found no evidence of incapacitating episodes or other compensable limitations.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service and thus denied service connection for all issues.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a left knee disorder and denied service connection for it. The claim of right knee disorder was also denied, but this denial is final as the Veteran failed to timely file a notice of disagreement regarding the March 2010 decision.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is service-connected, but his bilateral ankle, calf, and knee pain was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,There is no current disability for the ankles, calves, or knees.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and providing the Veteran with a more current VA examination to assess his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and liver cirrhosis on a secondary basis. The right and left knee disorders are not considered incurred or aggravated during active service, while the right and left foot disorders have no evidence of onset in service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the increased ratings for his right knee disability and entitlement to TDIU. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability and degenerative joint disease of the right knee are not service-connected. However, his shortening of the right lower extremity is found to be due to a pre-existing right ankle disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not related to his active service, and therefore does not warrant service connection.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is not related to the Veteran's active service and is not secondary to his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder.