Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a bilateral knee disability and granted it as the evidence shows that the condition is related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding private treatment records and the need for medical opinions regarding his heart disability, peptic ulcer disease, and gastritis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the claims for left and right knee replacements have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability was granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability were also granted.,Service connection for right knee disability is remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability and a left ankle disability based on evidence showing these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to June 29, 2009 for his left knee disability (excluding the 10 percent rating for limitation and painful motion) was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to determine the severity of his left knee disability and Scheuermann's disease, dorsal spine. The issues remain on appeal as higher ratings are assignable.

The Board has decided to remand several claims, including increased ratings for right foot, knee, and hip disabilities. The Veteran's left foot disability claim is also inextricably intertwined with the other claims and must be addressed as well.

The Board has granted service connection for hemorrhoids and remanded the issue of rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellar femoral syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for a left foot hammer toe condition is denied as there is no evidence of such a condition during service or related to his service-connected pes planus.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for right inguinal hernia scar cannot be earlier than August 16, 2012 due to lack of prior claim within one year of discharge from service.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder cannot be earlier than August 27, 2012 as there was no prior claim within one year of discharge from service.,Service connection is remanded for a low back condition secondary to pes planus due to lack of medical evidence linking the condition directly to service or to a service-connected disability.,Service connection is also remanded for a bilateral hip condition secondary to pes planus due to lack of medical evidence linking the condition directly to service or to a service-connected disability.,Service connection is also remanded for a bilateral knee condition secondary to pes planus due to lack of medical evidence linking the condition directly to service or to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder pre-existed his service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the left and right knees, respiratory disorder (asthma), and sleep apnea as there was no evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Veteran's right knee conditions have been rated based on their specific symptoms and limitations, with a range of ratings from 10% to 40%.,The Veteran's left knee conditions have also been rated based on their specific symptoms and limitations, with a range of ratings from 20% to 30%.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his xerosis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right knee disability, and headache.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that the symptoms are caused by a non-service connected ACL tear and not related to his service-connected stress fracture.

The Veteran's right knee meniscal tear, chondromalacia, and arthritis were granted service connection. Headaches were also granted service connection. The Veteran was awarded a rating of at least 20 percent for recurrent subluxation of the left knee effective July 22, 2010, due to painful motion. For status post left tibial plateau fracture with left knee chondromalacia patella, an evaluation of at least 10 percent is warranted effective July 22, 2010.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including knee and spine conditions. The reasons are that new evidence indicates an increase in severity for all conditions, a peripheral nerve examination is needed, and VA examinations must include joint testing for pain on both active and passive motion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one is required for determining if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and instability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or symptoms, and that any current disabilities are due to post-service trauma.