Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's left knee disability rating from 30% to 10% was not proper and restored the 30% rating for this period. The right knee and left knee disabilities are each rated at 30%. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 40%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities are not related to his period of service. The low back disability is also not linked to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes, hypertension, sarcoidosis, a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis. The Board found no evidence that these conditions began during or were caused by his active service.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for the claimed conditions and denied all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for epididymitis and prostatitis, right knee DJD, left knee DJD, and status post right fifth metatarsal fracture have been granted. The Veteran is now rated at 20 percent for epididymitis and prostatitis from May 18, 2011, with a separate rating of 10 percent each for right knee instability and left knee instability effective December 5, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination opinions and further development is required.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have not met the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's right knee osteochondroma is granted service connection, with the current arthritis considered to be unrelated to his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated VA medical records and vocational rehabilitation records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for narcolepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, heart disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral knee disorders. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective February 17, 2010, based on his service-connected knee, back, and ankle disabilities.,The Veteran is not eligible for SMC at the housebound rate as he does not have additional service-connected disabilities rated at 60 percent or more.

The Board found service connection for right knee cystic ganglia to be warranted due to the Veteran's credible statements and medical evidence linking his current condition to his active military service.,Service connection was denied for right knee patellar chondromalacia as there was no increase in severity during service, with the VA examiner concluding that any worsening was due to natural progression of the disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee status-post ACL reconstruction is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development of his claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims are granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart disorder, and other conditions. The appeal is based on new evidence.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to August 19, 2017. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a higher rating for this period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected left knee DJD is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, right shoulder, and right knee disabilities based on continuity of symptoms since service separation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for right foot disability and right knee disability. The Veteran's testimony in a July 2017 hearing provided sufficient information to establish an in-service injury, which is considered direct service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of higher initial evaluations for right knee limitation of flexion and extension, as well as an increased evaluation for instability.