Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C was granted with an effective date of November 17, 2011. The Board has reopened the previously denied claim and assigned a 20 percent rating for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is not related to his military service, and thus denied service connection for this condition.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee osteoarthritis and instability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since January 26, 2016. The Board has granted a TDIU rating on both schedular and extraschedular bases.

The Veteran's rating for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees was denied as his knee disabilities do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and its related complications, have been denied as they are not shown to be due to exposure to herbicides or any other in-service event.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for diabetes mellitus, PTSD, left knee disability, and duodenal ulcer was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of occupational and social impairment warranting an increased rating.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied as there is no evidence showing he is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand several of the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records as well as Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has remanded several issues for further action, including a new VA examination for the right knee disorder and preparation of an SOC for other claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a sleep disorder, as well as his increased rating claims for low back and bilateral knee disabilities. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids are rated at 10 percent since April 6, 2009. The left ankle scar is currently rated at 10 percent. The left torn Achilles tendon and bilateral pes planus disabilities are both rated at 10 percent. The right knee DJD is rated at 30 percent. The decision does not address the left knee strain.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability, posttraumatic stress disorder (PSTD), bilateral knee strain, and liver cirrhosis has been granted. The effective dates are not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder, left knee, and low back disabilities. The diagnoses include lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis, patellofemoral syndrome and strain in the left knee, and supraspinatus tendinosis and posterior labral tear in the left shoulder.

The Veteran's claims for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities have been reopened. The appeal is granted to this extent only.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the Veteran's assertions of current bilateral ear, gynecological and hearing loss disabilities incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a left knee disability, an increased evaluation for unspecified depressive disorder, and TDIU prior to September 1, 2016 have been dismissed. The case is remanded for further development regarding the left knee disability.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability and has remanded his claims regarding left knee limitation of flexion, dysthymic disorder, and GAD. The issues are related to service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee osteoarthritis, PTSD, CAD, right ankle osteoarthritis, and shrapnel wound scars, are rated at a combined 90 percent. The Board finds that these conditions render the Veteran unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to their severity and nature.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is not found to be in need of aid and attendance or housebound, thus denying entitlement to Special Monthly Pension (SMP).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow, left shoulder, and left knee disabilities have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim for a right elbow disability is denied as there is no evidence linking it to active service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and left knee disabilities are granted as they may be related to his Gulf War service. However, the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were aggravated by service.,Service connection for headaches is granted on an aggravation basis, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.