Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied. The Board finds that there is not sufficient evidence to establish the presence of a current left knee disability during the appeal period. However, the Veteran's liver disease is found to be at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, service connection for alcoholic liver disease secondary to service-connected PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability is related to an in-service injury during basic training, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus has been reopened and granted. His right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder have also been granted as secondary to his now service-connected pes planus.,PTSD ratings remain unchanged.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for limitation of flexion of the bilateral knees and back strain. The Veteran's sleep apnea and tinnitus have not been established as related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and consideration of additional evidence. The issue remains about entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for patellar femoral syndrome of the left knee.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful employment prior to September 16, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and will be readjudicated after obtaining these records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations of his right and left knee conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee disability status post total knee replacement are all service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability has been reopened, but the Board finds that there is not enough evidence to determine whether the Veteran's current right knee condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and knee disorders as well as a lower back disorder are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide an updated opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypertension or left knee disability, and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.,There is no evidence of a current left knee disability in the record.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disability were denied as there was no evidence of instability or limitation of motion that would warrant a higher rating prior to February 17, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disorder, back disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral lower extremities disability. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are not related to active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DJD of both knees, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left knee disability was rated at 10 percent, the neck disorder and back disorder were not related to service or a service-connected condition, the right shoulder disorder and left hip disorder were also not related to service or a service-connected condition, and the umbilical hernia was not listed among diseases for which presumptive service connection applies. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his combined disability rating did not meet the threshold for entitlement.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability, is rated at 20 percent. The rating for limitation of extension remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability, prior to October 29, 2014, was characterized by slight instability and limited flexion. Since December 1, 2015, the disability has been manifested by pain and swelling without ankylosis or impairment of the tibia or fibula.