Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest available rating of 70 percent, effective April 21, 2011. The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hand tremors are caused by the medications used to treat his service-connected disabilities, and he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's flat feet were not aggravated by service and denied his claims for service connection for acute back pain, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, right knee arthralgia, left knee arthralgia, right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain, and tension headaches.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental statement of the case regarding an increased rating for DJD with left knee flexion, and referral to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling new VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed low back, left knee, left shoulder, and psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is due to injury superimposed upon his congenital scoliosis during service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a legible copy of the August 2012 VA examination and opinion, and for further development related to his claims for increased rating for left knee degenerative joint disease and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, bilateral knee, and right shoulder disorders are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology or an in-service injury.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death, and concluded that his PTSD did not substantially or materially contribute to his death. The Board also noted that there was no evidence of suicide attempts related to PTSD.

The Board denied an increased rating for service-connected right knee disability in July 2017, and the appeal is dismissed as there are no remaining questions of fact or law to be decided.

The Board has denied reopening of service connection for a right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and asthma due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's claim for left wrist disorder is not substantiated by the available evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not otherwise related to service, or caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased rating claim for right knee mild patellofemoral syndrome due to inadequate examination findings and requests a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, increased ratings for his knee disabilities and skin condition, and TDIU at an earlier effective date than March 21, 2013. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated during service and is not due to or aggravated by a service connected right knee disability. The claim for increased rating of his right knee disability is remanded as it lacks adequate VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right knee, left knee, and right hip disabilities. The evidence did not support higher ratings than those assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for left knee arthritis, finding that the first evidence of left knee arthritis was in May 2004, which corresponds to the date of his claim. The earliest possible effective date is therefore March 29, 2004.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee arthritis did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to military service. The preponderance of the evidence supports a finding against the claim.