Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for DJD and total knee replacement of the left knee. The appeal regarding right disability and hepatitis C is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disability. The Veteran is presumed to be sound upon entry into service, so any pre-existing conditions must not have been aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to schedule the Veteran for examinations to assess the current severity of his left knee and right ankle disabilities.

The claims for service connection for left knee sprain, right knee sprain, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis has been remanded.,The claims for service connection for conjunctivitis and sleep disorder (including sleep apnea) have also been remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability of the right knee, limitation of flexion and extension of the right knee, and dislocation of semilunar cartilage of the right knee from October 16, 2011 to March 28, 2012. The issue of entitlement to an extension of a temporary total disability evaluation for convalescence following right knee surgery beyond May 1, 2012 is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,Claims regarding the Veteran's knee, shoulder, deviated septum, sleep apnea, lacunar infarcts, PTSD, and dental conditions have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of both knees due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during or prior to the appeal period.,Service connection for skin rash to the back, back of arms, and sides is denied because there is no medical evidence linking the condition to military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection of a bilateral knee disability. The claims for body pain, bilateral hearing loss, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood are dismissed. Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection for neck disability, bilateral knee disability, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right and left knee disabilities, and back disability have been granted. The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen these claims and has determined that the preponderance of the evidence supports the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disorder, and bilateral knee disorders. Additional development is needed for the remaining issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, and bilateral pes planus disabilities due to incomplete records and need for clarification on whether the Veteran's preexisting pes planus disability was permanently worsened during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee injury was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that there is sufficient evidence to indicate that his current right knee disability may be related to his military service, specifically his reported history of right knee pain since physical training in service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's flat feet, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The issues of service connection are related to whether these disabilities were aggravated by active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar degeneration, cervical strain, and right knee disability are secondary to his service-connected left foot DJD. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma with COPD is found to have caused his mood disorder, and the claim for secondary service connection for a mood disorder is granted.

The claim to reopen the service connection for lumbar spine disability is granted. The claims for left knee disability are remanded.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's right knee condition has been reopened, but further examination is needed to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to assess whether his condition warrants an increased rating.