Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that his current symptoms are related to an in-service stressor. The bilateral knee disability issue is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the spurs.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip, left knee, and back disabilities are not related to his service-connected right knee disability or any other service-connected condition. Therefore, these claims for secondary service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient opinions in the VA examination reports and lack of consideration of a private medical opinion.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by pain and limited motion, is currently rated at 10 percent under DC 5260. The Board has found additional functional loss due to painful motion, warranting a separate 20 percent rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee disability was denied. The Board found that his right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 5260, as it only showed noncompensable limitation of flexion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right knee instability and degenerative joint disease do not warrant a higher disability rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and osteoarthritis, was rated at 30 percent disabling from August 1, 2014 to the present. The rating is based on chronic residuals of a total knee replacement with intermediate degrees of residual weakness and pain.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective June 15, 2010. The RO denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder and sleep apnea in the May 2011 rating decision. Service connection was granted for these conditions in subsequent decisions.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective May 10, 2012, based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his PTSD and musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right knee disability and left knee disability were denied. The Veteran's right knee was rated based on traumatic osteoarthritis with torn medial meniscus, while the left knee was rated at 30 percent since December 1, 2013.

The Veteran was not in receipt of, nor entitled to receive, compensation for service-connected disability that was continuously rated totally disabling for a period of 10 or more years immediately preceding death. Therefore, the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied.

The Board found that the reduction from a 30 percent rating to a 10 percent rating for right knee disability was proper based on improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work, despite continued symptoms such as pain.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is now considered service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to lack of VA examinations and outstanding records.

The Board denied entitlement to ratings higher than 10 percent for bilateral knee disabilities since August 30, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been granted, with the highest rating of 10 percent being assigned for each condition.

The Veteran's current bilateral knee arthritis is at least as likely as not related to service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.