Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting right knee disorder did not permanently worsen during service and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's periods of service, address procedural deficiencies, and obtain addendum VA medical opinions regarding her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for right ankle, right knee, and low back disorders were denied. The claim for a low back disorder was reopened but remains denied as there is no evidence of arthritis within one year of service separation or that the current condition is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. The effective date of the grant is set at May 22, 1995.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder with radiating hip pain and right knee disorder are at least in equipoise as to being related to service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease, cervical degenerative disc disease with spondylosis C3-C7, lumbar degenerative disc disease with neuritis L5-S1, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative joint disease have been rated as 10 percent each since May 4, 2010.

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

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective the date of his claim. The Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including gout, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, rhinitis, kidney disability (chronic renal failure and bilateral renal cysts), hypertension, cystitis, erectile dysfunction, and migraines. The appeals are now resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his military service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. The remaining issues of service connection for various foot disabilities, back disability, and knee disabilities are addressed in detail below.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee strain and instability with torn meniscus, as well as his claim to reopen a previously denied claim for residuals of frostbite of both hands. The effective dates for these grants are set at February 16, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA medical examination to assess the severity of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy and knee disabilities. The TDIU claim will be held in abeyance pending the development of these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The remaining claims have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining updated treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The issues of service connection for low back, bilateral knee, bilateral shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities are on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule him for a VA examination to address the severity of his service-connected bipartite of the left patella, as well as any relationship between this condition and his diagnosed left knee disorders.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure proper development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional service treatment records and conducting medical examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's left thumb disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating, while his left knee disability warranted a 20 percent rating as of January 16, 2013.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 60 percent from March 8, 2014. The issue of entitlement to a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence following hospitalization and/or medical treatment associated with a right knee degenerative patellar spur has been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to determine if there is a causal relationship between the Veteran's knee disabilities and his military service.