Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disorders as secondary to a service-connected low back disorder due to lack of evidence showing such conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including muscle group XIV and post-operative residuals, is rated at 30 percent. The Veteran also meets criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability, specifically degenerative joint disease, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his flexion and extension do not limit to the levels required by any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the condition is directly related to active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of an increased evaluation for left shoulder impingement syndrome remains pending.

The Veteran's left knee injury residuals are currently rated at 20 percent, effective September 5, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of moderate instability in the left knee, warranting this rating.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection of left and right knee disabilities was granted. The claim for an increased rating for a left ankle sprain remains denied.

The Veteran's death pension and accrued benefits appeals were dismissed as the Appellant withdrew her claims. The DIC claim was remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities due to outstanding VA examinations. The Veteran was not provided with proper notification of scheduled examinations, and he failed to appear for them.

The Veteran's right homonymous hemianopsia is granted a 50% rating, effective September 23, 2015. The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether a left knee disorder, diagnosed as chronic left knee strain to ACL with effusion, sprain, and chondromalacia, is related to an injury sustained in service. As such, the criteria for service connection are met.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and right knee disabilities were not shown to be related to service, but did not find sufficient continuity of symptoms or evidence linking them to service. The rating reduction for the right ankle disability was improper as due process was not followed.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and he did not establish entitlement to service connection or compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his bilateral knee disorder and PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to preclude substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is granted service connection based on chronic symptoms in and since service.,A supplemental VA medical opinion will be obtained to address the current status of a meniscal tear diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.