Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee strain did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and there is no evidence to support a finding of continuity of symptomatology. The condition resolved over time and was not caused by any aspect of active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's service connection claims for left knee and right hip disorders. There is no current diagnosis found by the VA examiner, and thus the threshold element of a current disability is not met.

The Board granted separate initial ratings of 20 percent for right and left knee instability, but denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities has been rated at 20 percent since April 7, 2009.,Since July 29, 2016, the Veteran's radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities has been rated at 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability and whether it is related to his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion regarding his claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for bilateral knee disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and panic attacks as the result of a VA bone scan on April 30, 2010.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disorder, premature ventricular contractions, excessive potassium levels, and kidney disorder. The claim for left knee disorder is being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with major depression and panic disorder with agoraphobia, degenerative disc disease and spondylosis in lower cervical spine, arthritis right foot (status post crush injury and reconstructive surgery to right great toe), and degenerative joint disease, right knee, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability and hearing loss are found to be related to his active duty service, granting the claims for these conditions.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, neck arthritis, and lumbar disc disease. The Board has determined that additional development is needed as the current VA examination did not adequately address the relationship between his service-connected left ankle disability and these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities are related to injuries sustained during service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically right and left knee arthritis, have been rated at a 10 percent disability rating since December 1, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence supports this rating as it includes manifestations of pain, swelling, and tenderness on palpation.

The Veteran's claims for right and left knee disabilities have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of a chronic knee disability.,Service connection has also been denied for TBI residuals, specifically cognitive impairment. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 8045.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin cancer and throat cancer are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a connection between his active duty service and these conditions. The right knee disorder is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's cause of death was a cardiovascular accident caused by complications of an above the knee amputation, which is service-connected secondary to his prior service-connected condition.

The Board finds that the reduction of the rating for the Veteran's right knee laxity from 10 percent to noncompensable effective September 6, 2012 was improper and restores the original 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for left knee disability. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and a higher rating for his right knee disability, as well as the TDIU claim, have been dismissed due to withdrawal of these claims by the Veteran prior to the Board's decision.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee disability is proximately due to, the result of, or chronically aggravated by his service-connected right knee disabilities.