Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability and scars of the bilateral knees associated with bilateral total knee arthroplasty due to incomplete examination findings.

The Veteran's claims for right foot plantar fasciitis, right ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, benign prostatic hyperplasia and hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder, erectile dysfunction (ED), left foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral onychomycosis, eye disorder, left ankle disorder, back disorder, and tinnitus have all been denied. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability from March 13, 2013 to May 24, 2013 and from July 1, 2013. The initial rating of 10 percent for chondromalacia patella with arthritis remains unchanged.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grants of service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee and bilateral pes planus. The Board finds that no claim was filed or adjudicated prior to April 21, 2010.,The Veteran's claims were denied in September 1994 and January 2009. No new and material evidence was submitted within one year of these decisions. The AOJ granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously-denied claims for bilateral pes planus and patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee on April 21, 2010.

The Board has remanded the cases of a rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee status post total knee replacement and TDIU due to issues with the current examination report not fully complying with VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were found to meet the criteria for a combined disability rating greater than 80 percent from July 29, 1997, to August 9, 2001, and greater than 90 percent from August 9, 2001, to June 27, 2002. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to March 13, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including undifferentiated somatoform disorder and anxiety disorder with mood swings, lack of concentration, memory loss and fatigue, have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations and mental health issues.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating for PTSD, as well as his request for TDIU. The appeal of service connection for bilateral shin splints is also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU due to incomplete development of records and inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be further developed before they can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for left knee chondromalacia patella, right knee chondromalacia patella, and chronic mechanical low back pain with sciatica have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal before any decision was made.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent prior to July 17, 2017 and 30 percent from September 1, 2018. The Board denied increased ratings for both periods.

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, and bilateral knee disabilities. The claim for reopening of the coronary heart disease was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, effective October 21, 2006. The RO has denied higher ratings for these conditions.,A TDIU is granted from September 28, 2017, based on the combined rating of 70% due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative joint disease and granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee. The case is remanded to determine if service connection for left knee strain, including as secondary to service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease, should be granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received. The appeal is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, elbow, back, and knee disorders as secondary to his service-connected splenomegaly. The VA examiner concluded that these disorders are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right knee arthroscopy is remanded due to deficiencies in the previous VA examination and a need for additional records from her private orthopedist.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disability due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his military service, and the Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between his current disability and his in-service injury.