Knee decisions — 2017

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral knee condition is at least in equipoise with service connection, and thus grants service connection for a bilateral knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The remaining claims are dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development of his medical records.

The Veteran requested a Board hearing, but withdrew his request in September 2017. The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed right and left knee disorders are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorders are not shown to be related to his active duty service. The evidence does not show any in-service injury or chronic disability, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions aggravated by service.

The Veteran's right total knee replacement has been rated at 100 percent effective June 23, 2017. A separate rating of 30 percent for post-total right knee replacement is scheduled to be assigned beginning August 1, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. No claims have been decided.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and for additional examinations. The issues of service connection for a headache disorder, psychiatric disorder (PTSD), heart disorder, skin disorder, and right knee disorder are still under consideration.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to incomplete information and need for additional development, including an addendum opinion considering the Veteran's current enrollment in a vocational rehabilitation program.

The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine disability, and knee osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for respiratory, leg and knee disorders. However, it granted a 10% rating for residuals of nose injury/deviated septum.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including scheduling a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus, bilateral foot disorder (status post removal of ganglion cysts), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 is rated as 60 percent disabling since November 26, 2013. The RO also granted SMC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s) effective from the same date. TDIU is moot due to the Veteran's already being in receipt of a total disability rating for individual unemployability based on service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of the bilateral knees, right hip, and right shoulder is related to service. However, hypertension was not present in service or until years thereafter and is not etiologically related to any incident of active duty service.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for left knee strain with degenerative joint disease and right hip arthritis, finding the evidence did not support an increase in either condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorders did not manifest within a year of discharge and were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee synovitis. The claims for low back, psychiatric, cardiac, and urinary disorders are also denied.

The Veteran's DJD of the right knee was previously rated at 10 percent prior to September 20, 2010. The RO granted a temporary total evaluation from September 20, 2010 until November 1, 2011 based on surgery or other treatment necessitating convalescence.,The Veteran's arthritis of the right hip with limitation of flexion was previously rated at 10 percent prior to August 5, 2016. The RO increased this rating to 30 percent from August 5, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome has not met the criteria for a higher rating since July 12, 2016.