Knee decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for herpes simplex virus type II due to lack of evidence of a current disability and no in-service incurrence. The cases for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and allergic rhinitis are remanded as the Veteran's representative asserted that their severity has increased since the last VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for upper back condition, left knee injury, left toe condition (claimed as left great toe infection), bilateral eye condition (claimed as bilateral eye irritation), chest condition (claimed as chest pain), and anemia.,Additionally, the Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle condition and hypertension.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for the right knee from August 1, 2017 through December 31, 2018. The claims for increased evaluations of the left knee and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's pain is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The rating assigned remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the disability ratings for posttraumatic osteoarthritis, right ankle with shin splints and tibial exostosis, and right knee osteoarthritis. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder DJD with right shoulder rotator cuff tear and left knee arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service.,The claim for lumbosacral spine status post laminectomy for herniated nucleus pulposus was also denied as there was no new and material evidence to reopen it.

The Veteran's chondromalacia of the left knee was evaluated at a 10% rating since August 27, 2014. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in his disability rating beyond this level.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected degenerative changes of the right knee is being remanded to schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 17, 2008 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that there is no basis for assigning an earlier effective date as the denial in the December 2006 final rating decision precludes such a determination.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. An initial 10 percent disability rating, but no higher, for a left knee scar is granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection of ear problems and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that his pre-existing condition did not worsen during service and was not aggravated.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for a right foot condition and kidney stones. The Board remanded the claims of service connection for left knee condition and right knee condition (secondary to left knee).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient development and examination. The Veteran's knee and hip disorders are not found to be related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus, and the psychiatric disorder is not found to be proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, left foot disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted but the issue is recharacterized as PTSD.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) is granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings in excess of 30 percent, 20 percent, 10 percent, 10 percent, and 10 percent for right knee disability, left knee weakness and instability, a left knee scar, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and left knee arthritis respectively.

The Board has granted a maximum schedular rating of 100 percent for the loss of use of both feet, effective from when the claim was filed. The left foot amputation is part of this rating and does not warrant a separate evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip disability is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis rating remains at 10 percent, but the Board has requested additional evidence to review and may change this decision.