Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disability, a psychiatric disorder including PTSD and an adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, and alcohol dependence due to new evidence added to the record after the May 2016 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

Service connection for limitation of extension of the left and right knees, as well as degenerative joint disease with instability of both knees, is restored effective June 1, 2014. The disability evaluations are also restored to 10 percent each.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities as of June 10, 2014.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right elbow, left knee, and right knee conditions. The rating for anxiety disorder remains unchanged.

The Veteran's clothing was damaged by a brace he uses for his service-connected left knee disability. The Board has granted payment of a clothing allowance for the calendar year 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including PTSD, knee disorders, erectile dysfunction, and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for a right hip disability and left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. Additionally, it has assigned a 60% rating effective March 29, 2017, for the Veteran's right knee status-post total knee arthroplasty.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee chondromalacia with associated degenerative joint disease, as their symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claim for impaired fasting glucose was denied as it is not a disability for VA compensation purposes.,PTSD service connection was granted with an effective date of December 29, 2016. An earlier effective date prior to this date was denied.,An initial PTSD rating in excess of 10 percent was denied.,Bilateral pes planus service connection was granted with an effective date of April 29, 2011. An earlier effective date prior to this date was denied.,Service connection for a skin disability was denied.,Allergic rhinitis was granted as related to the Veteran's active service.,The claims for cervical spine and sinus disabilities were reopened.

The Veteran's appeal is for increased ratings and secondary service connection for various disabilities. The claims are being remanded to obtain new VA examinations.,The Veteran has multiple service-connected conditions, including bilateral pes planus, shin splints of the left and right lower extremities, lumbar spine disability, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral knee disability. He is seeking higher ratings for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain and a right knee disorder, manifested by pain and stiffness. The claim for an initial compensable rating for the Veteran's left knee cyst is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine condition, lumbosacral strain, cervical spondylosis with herniated discs, left arm radiculopathy, bursitis of the left knee, and headaches, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to May 30, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder disabilities, bilateral knee disabilities, loss of vision, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction due to service connection. The issues are related to whether these conditions began during or were caused by periods of active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip and left knee disorders may be related to his service-connected lumbar spine and right knee conditions, respectively. The claims are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess whether the Veteran’s low back condition is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities of his lower extremities.

The Veteran's application to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for left knee DJD is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the claim, but remands it for further development including obtaining an opinion on whether his left knee DJD is related to his active service or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding the rating of his lumbosacral strain and total knee replacement.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for left hernia repair is dismissed. The Board has granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The appeals for increased ratings for lumbosacral spine, right knee, and left knee conditions are remanded.