Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities, including range of motion testing and functional loss due to pain and repetitive use.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for various service connection claims, including those related to his throat disorder and diabetes mellitus, have been withdrawn. The claim for a throat disorder was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disability, and neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee meniscectomy residuals was denied as the highest schedular rating of 10 percent is already assigned.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, as the current medical evidence is insufficient to determine whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, right knee arthritis, and lumbar disc bulging and arthritis of the lumbar spine are all found to have onset during service. The Veteran is granted a rating of at least 10 percent for his left heel fasciitis.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of headaches and that there is no evidence linking his headaches to service or any service-connected disabilities. The claims for back, bilateral ankle, and bilateral knee conditions are also denied as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for traumatic brain injury and bilateral eye irritation and blurred vision have been withdrawn. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for low back strain status post hemilaminectomy, the appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease, cervical spine (cervical spine disability), and the appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthropathy have been dismissed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's outstanding treatment records and to provide him with a new VA examination for his knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as another opinion on his nervous condition claim. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for his right ankle disability are being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability and granted service connection for bilateral flat feet. The initial compensable rating for anemia (Chicago hemoglobin) is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and non-VA treatment records and scheduling her for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected left knee disability and varicose veins.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and his service. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if there is a causal nexus between his current condition and his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed back disorder and knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of skeletal arthritis, residuals of cold injury to bilateral feet, cold injury to upper extremities, or cold injury to lower extremities. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.,Regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and bilateral hip strain, the Board finds that there is no evidence showing a relationship between his current disabilities and service. The VA examiner opined that these conditions are more likely due to natural aging process rather than service.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their respective conditions, with no higher ratings granted due to the current functional limitations. The claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and review of his claims by his representative.

The Veteran's TMJ dysfunction has been rated at 10 percent since February 16, 2017. The condition is characterized by inter-incisal range of more than 40 mm and lateral excursion greater than 4mm.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee DJD was denied as the evidence did not show sustained improvement in his condition, warranting a reduction from 20% to 10%. The initial ratings of 10% and 20% were also denied as there was no evidence of limitation of motion or instability that would support higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, perforated eardrum, and hearing loss. The AOJ will also schedule a new VA examination for an increased rating for hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability, including degenerative joint disease and Osgood-Schlatter disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.