Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for DDD of the cervical spine and assigned a 20% evaluation, effective December 23, 2015. The Veteran's claim for right leg hamstring tendon harvest was also granted.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right knee disability has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of flexion or extension, and there was no objective evidence of lateral instability.

The Veteran is granted a separate disability rating for surgical scars of the left knee that cause limited motion, as these scars are not covered by other specific DCs and their effects on motion warrant an additional rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and left hip disorders are not service-connected, with no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is service-connected, and his right hip condition is secondary to his bilateral knee disability. The decision grants these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not properly before it due to a remand of other issues, and thus the appeal is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's left knee lateral collateral laxity has been manifested by complaints of pain, frequent locking, and no more than mild instability. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to reconcile conflicting medical evidence and provide opinions regarding the onset of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right knee is service connected, with a finding in favor of granting service connection based on direct evidence.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteochondritis dissecans and degenerative changes, warrants a separate 10 percent rating for painful motion from January 29, 2010. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU prior to February 4, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is attributable to service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, left wrist DJD, and hepatitis C are related to service. The right shoulder, right knee, left knee, low back, and respiratory disabilities are not shown to be related to service. Bilateral hearing loss is also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension or hypertensive heart disease, or bilateral knee disability during service. The Board found that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it began during his active duty service and has been continuously present since then.,New evidence received since the previous denial of service connection for a left knee disability indicates that the condition may be related to service. The claim will be reopened, but further evaluation is needed to determine if service connection can be established.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed again with additional medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's post-operative lumbar spine injury residuals with degenerative arthritis originated during service and granted service connection for this condition. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disorder, left knee disorder, and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and missing records, including private treatment records from Dr. R.C.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of her bilateral foot disorder was denied. Her PTSD claim has been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for DJD of the right and left knees, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronic right knee disorder during his active military service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found that any current right knee disorder is not related to his service.