Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability has been reopened and is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo has been reopened and is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee replacement, finding that his current condition is not related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's headaches are granted a 10 percent rating prior to August 8, 2013 and denied any higher. For the period beginning August 8, 2013, he is granted a 30 percent rating for his headaches. The Veteran's bipolar disorder is granted a 70 percent rating prior to May 4, 2013 and a 100 percent rating from that date forward.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, bilateral hip, and right knee disabilities, as well as higher initial evaluations for his left knee, ankle sprains, and anxiety disorder. The VA will obtain all outstanding treatment records, provide new examinations, and consider whether these conditions are related to service or other factors.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his knee disabilities and instability are remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to June 13, 2017 and increased to 70 percent thereafter. The right knee disability received a rating of 30 percent for severe subluxation and limited leg extension, while the left knee disability also received a rating of 30 percent.,PTSD was rated at 30 percent prior to June 13, 2017 and increased to 70 percent thereafter. The right knee disability received a rating of 30 percent for severe subluxation and limited leg extension, while the left knee disability also received a rating of 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected back, left and right knees, and right wrist conditions have changed in severity since his VA examination of March 2012. The Board finds that a new VA examination is necessary to decide the increased rating claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee prosthesis disability is currently rated at 30 percent since December 1, 2013. The Board denied a higher rating for this condition. For the period prior to October 31, 2012, and since November 1, 2014, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all issues related to service connection for GERD, bilateral knee pain, and bilateral ankle pain. Service connection is granted for cervical spine disability (neck pain) but denied for lumbar spine disability, bilateral hand and finger pain, wrist pain, elbow pain, hip pain, and shoulder pain.

The Board has remanded the claims of episodic tension headaches, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to incomplete development and lack of sufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease has been rated at 10 percent since September 20, 2013. The evidence shows that the flexion of the knee is limited to a maximum of 95 degrees and extension is limited to 0 degrees with pain.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation have been granted service connection. The low back and left knee disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee spurs and their relationship to his active service. The case is now pending for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is denied. The Board found no evidence of direct service connection and the preponderance of the evidence against secondary service connection due to his left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and the Board has determined that there is sufficient evidence to support a finding of current disabilities related to his in-service injuries. However, the Board found no medical nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee instability and hiatal hernia with GERD and status post cholelithiasis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, and bilateral tinea pedis all incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability with dizziness was denied in August 2012, and the Board found no new and material evidence to reopen this claim. The Veteran's claim for bilateral knee and lower leg disabilities secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative joint disease was also denied in February 2010, but reopened due to new and material evidence received since then.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for balance problems (also claimed as dizziness) has been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with its January 2018 remand orders and another remand is necessary due to the lack of addressing the Veteran's two theories of secondary entitlement.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right fifth metacarpal fracture and right knee medial meniscus tear due to incomplete issuance of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).