Knee decisions — 2018

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's left forearm scar, left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral pes planus, and IBS. The Veteran was also awarded a higher rating for his right shoulder disability and right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, but the Veteran's left knee meniscus tear and right ankle disorder remain pending issues.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and need for further medical opinions regarding the service connection of the veteran's knee, tibia, and ankle conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied. The initial rating periods remain unchanged, with the right knee disability rated at 10 percent from April 25, 2011 to January 12, 2017, and the left knee disability rated at 10 percent from April 25, 2011 to March 6, 2017. The Veteran's claims for separate ratings for right knee instability were also denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine and left knee disabilities. Further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee, bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus, and traumatic arthritis of the left ankle.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right patella disability had its onset in service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of an increased rating for left knee disability is being remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disability and determine the nature and etiology of any low back disability. The issues on appeal include entitlement to higher ratings for his right knee disabilities and service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative joint disease was denied as there were no communications indicating intent to reopen the claim between the last final rating decision and the new claim.

The claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, and headaches have been reopened.,The claims for service connection for myopia/astigmatism, bilateral knee disability, back disability, onychomycosis/dermatophytosis, neck disability, and scars on both sides of the nose were not reopened.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's left ankle arthritis is caused by his service-connected right knee DJD. As a result, the claim for secondary service connection for left ankle arthritis is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee arthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are not service-connected as they are not related to his active military service. The claims for secondary service connection have also been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee and lumbar spine disabilities cause his clothing to wear more quickly, warranting an annual clothing allowance.

From January 24, 2006 to September 1, 2008, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were sufficiently incapacitating as to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic right wrist sprain and right wrist osteoarthritis was granted. The claims for ankle, knee, and left shoulder disabilities were not addressed due to lack of diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate opinions and missing records. The issues include service connection for various conditions, including left foot disability, right knee disability, epistaxis, facial injury, sleep apnea, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of a gunshot wound, compound comminuted fracture of the right femur, with muscle injury, knee disability, and one inch shortening of the right leg, and status post right total knee replacement, prior to November 12, 2012, was denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 80 percent for right thigh above the knee amputation due to chronic recurrent osteomyelitis was also denied. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU for the period from October 1, 2007, to October 23, 2012, was denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to January 2, 2014 and increased to 20 percent thereafter.