Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right and left knee conditions, including residual instability and osteoarthritis, are rated at 30 percent each under the direct service connection criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and joint pain have been denied due to his refusal and failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's right knee DJD was rated at 10 percent prior to August 17, 2005. A separate 20 percent rating for instability is granted.,Effective from October 1, 2006, the Veteran received a 50 percent rating for his right knee DJD and a 30 percent rating thereafter.

The Veteran's knee conditions, including degenerative joint disease and lateral instability, are currently rated at 10 percent each prior to the date of his total knee replacements. A separate 10 percent rating for lateral instability is granted.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his service connection claims for various conditions has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for GERD and denied service connection for hypertension, left knee disability, and gastric ulcer.

The Veteran's back disorder is denied as not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for a back disability. For the other conditions, the Board determined there was no in-service injury or disease related to these disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee sprain and right knee chondromalacia patella are currently rated at 10 percent each, effective November 29, 2012. The Veteran seeks higher ratings for these conditions.,For the Veteran's service-connected left knee sprain, there is no evidence of flexion limited to less than 45 degrees or extension limited to more than 10 degrees, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261 respectively.

The Veteran's chronic gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, diagnosed as GERD and esophagitis, are the result of his active service. His left knee disorder, kidney disorder, low back disorder, and hepatitis B have also been found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his right knee disability, as well as his TDIU claim are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative joint disease of the right hip, left hip, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, cervical spine, and lumbar spine. However, it has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA addendum medical opinion to address the relationship between his service-connected knee conditions and any newly diagnosed meniscal tears.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability was denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for the bilateral foot disability has been granted, effective March 5, 2013.,For his left knee disability, the appeal is pending and will be addressed in the remand portion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, right knee, bilateral shoulder, and left hip disabilities. The evidence now shows that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee chondromalacia patella, effective from October 24, 2017. The rating is based on painful flexion and lateral instability of the joint.

The Veteran's left knee and lumbar spine disabilities are found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including internal derangement and instability, was found to warrant a separate 10 percent rating from January 3, 2013. The condition did not meet criteria for higher ratings under other diagnostic codes.