Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee chondromalacia patella is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee and shoulder degenerative joint disease is related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right knee disability, hepatitis B, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's statements regarding symptom onset will be considered along with any new evidence provided.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis and sinusitis have been granted service connection, with a rating of 10%.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service and there is no evidence linking the current condition to military service.,The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it is related to in-service noise exposure. The right knee disability is also service-connected as it was caused by a service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine conditions, as well as service connection for neurological damage to the arms and legs, bilateral hip disability, bilateral ankle disability, and osteoarthritis of the knees are denied.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral shoulder disability or bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding functional loss during flare-ups and because VA Form 21-526 and statements from the Veteran and his wife have not been associated with the electronic record.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a low back disorder and granted it. The Veteran's sleep apnea is not service connected, but secondary to his service-connected GAD. Meningitis and sarcoidosis are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's low back and left knee disorders are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to support his claim for a right knee disability. The claim for residuals of a broken jaw remains denied as there is no indication of current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including his total knee arthroplasty and arthroscopy, are related to in-service injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The issue of an increased rating for left knee disability is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected right total knee replacement with residual scars has been rated at 60 percent since March 1, 2011. A higher rating is not warranted as the condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and therefore, denied all issues of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected low back disability, finding that his current employment does not meet the criteria for unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his left knee and hip disabilities. The issue of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) will be deferred until these other claims are resolved.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board has determined that there is no evidence of a right leg disability, to include right knee degenerative joint disease, incurred in or caused by military service. The Veteran also did not meet the criteria for an increased rating for his peripheral vascular disease and gout with arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted with an effective date of August 8, 2011. The Board found that the November 2007 rating decision denying service connection for a left ankle disorder did not contain CUE and denied reopening the claim for a left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's right knee instability and DJD were rated at 10 percent, effective March 23, 2010. The rating for right knee instability was denied, but the initial rating for right knee DJD was granted.