Knee decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee conditions, tinnitus, and allergic rhinitis. Service connection was granted for PTSD with a rating of 50%.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various joint disorders, including myalgia, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses include cystic growth on the right elbow, arthritis in the left elbow, and degenerative changes in the right and left knees and hips.,The Board also remanded the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tension headaches and the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and hernia disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral foot disorder, low back disorder, right knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted. The claims for service connection for left knee disorder and right hip disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disorders due to secondary service-connected bilateral foot hallus valgus. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or secondary to the service-connected condition.

The claims for service connection for a right knee condition, an ankle condition, and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for a left knee condition is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete evidence and a need for further consideration of the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including cervical condition, bilateral knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, memory loss, headache, and erectile dysfunction. The appeals are related to undiagnosed illnesses or secondary to a service-connected disability (angioedema).

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities are manifested by at least painful and limited motion. The Board has granted a rating of at least 10 percent for each knee disability, but the appeal is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for a 10 percent rating for left femur fracture and left hip limitation of rotation have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death was related to his service.

The Veteran's right knee and ankle disabilities are being remanded for additional opinions regarding whether they are secondary to his service-connected radiculopathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee disabilities and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted eligibility for specially adapted housing due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities affecting his lower extremities. However, as he is now eligible for this benefit, the claim for a special home adaptation grant is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee strain and instability has been granted, with a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability. The current 10 percent rating for limitation of motion remains unchanged.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a left knee disability was granted, but the claim itself remains denied. The claims for effective dates and ratings were also addressed and are either granted or denied as appropriate.

The Veteran's patellar tendinitis of the left knee is currently rated at 10 percent, and his limitation of flexion of the right knee from July 29, 2007 to June 13, 2018 is also rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's degenerative joint disease (post-anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction) of the right knee was granted a higher rating of 20 percent since March 3, 2015. However, his instability of the right knee remains rated as 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, TDIU, and service connection were denied. The right knee arthritis claim was granted with a 20% rating prior to November 8, 2016, and a 30% rating since January 1, 2018. A separate 20% rating for instability associated with the right knee disability from September 16, 2014 to November 8, 2016 was also granted. The left knee strain claim remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person, thus denying an increased level of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, knee, and lumbosacral strain disabilities as secondary to a right ankle disability. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of February 26, 2008 for service connection for right knee injury and medial meniscus tear is granted. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for her right knee tendonitis status post medial meniscus tear is remanded.