Knee decisions — 2018

The appellant's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 24, 2012, to June 30, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is more likely than not aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at a 30 percent level, and service connection for his right and left knee disabilities has also been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, effective October 2010.,The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent, effective October 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disorder is found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for accrued benefit purposes.,For the left knee chondromalacia, a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities have been rated and the Board has determined that an increased rating is warranted for osteoarthritis of the right knee, but not for residuals of a right knee meniscectomy. The Veteran also meets criteria for TDIU.

The Board found no evidence of in-service events, injuries, or diseases related to the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus type II, heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, stroke, stomach disability, amputations, renal disease, and anemia. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar sprain and right knee patellar tendonitis, as well as a determination on whether he has sleep apnea that may be related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and there is no evidence to warrant an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and right shoulder disorders are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was evaluated as mild prior to July 27, 2012 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating for his bilateral pes planus.,For his left and right knee disabilities, the Veteran's claim was denied due to lack of service connection as they were not linked to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records, particularly regarding his service-connected knee disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities as well as TDIU are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee disability and service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to the right knee disability, is denied. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's left knee disability is productive of painful motion and meniscectomies, warranting a separate evaluation of 10 percent. The instability claim was not granted as the Veteran's knee does not meet criteria for an increased rating based on instability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an additional left knee disability caused by his July 2007 TKA, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.,For service connection claims, the Board determined there is no evidence of a current left knee disorder or any in-service incurrence or aggravation that would support a finding of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee scar and traumatic degeneration of the 2nd left distal metacarpal joint, as secondary to a service-connected gunshot wound. The upper respiratory disability claim is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed low back disorder and right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis is service-connected, but his lumbar spine DJD cannot be linked to his period of active duty.