Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to May 1, 2016 and found that the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in thinking and mood.

The Veteran withdrew the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with MDD during his March 2017 Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected scleroderma disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, GERD, right and left knee disabilities, and ED are all found to be related to his service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection based on new evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied them based on lack of evidence showing a nexus to in-service noise exposure. The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition was not addressed as it is considered new and material.

The Board found that the withholding of compensation benefits to recoup disability severance pay in the amount of $6,392.00 was proper and denied the Veteran's appeal.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right knee condition and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's right knee disability is found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been reopened, but the evidence does not support a higher rating or service connection for any of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee meniscus tear is causally related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and service connection claims due to procedural issues, as well as denied his claim of a reduction in PTSD rating. The appeal was not addressed further.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed and the case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is established for bilateral lower and upper peripheral neuropathy, with effective dates prior to March 7, 2013.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for the grants of service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are September 24, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are caused by his service-connected bilateral pes planus, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is sufficient evidence to establish a current diagnosis of DJD of the right knee during service and that this condition is related to service. As such, the claim for service connection for DJD of the right knee is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death, and no decision on the merits of the service connection claim for a left knee/leg disorder was made.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities was granted effective October 28, 2003. The earliest date of entitlement is more than one year prior to the date of claim.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period prior to August 11, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The temporary total evaluation based on a service-connected disability requiring a period of convalescence (total temporary evaluation) is denied as there is no service connection for a cervical spine condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for right knee degenerative changes was granted, but the current appeal is about his status post-right knee medial meniscectomy. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating from March 9, 2016.