Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right tibia and fibula fracture with right knee impairment was denied. The Board found that the disability did not result in moderate disability of the knee, loss range of motion to a compensable degree, or instability. The TDIU claim is remanded due to lack of development.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities and right knee scars, as well as TDIU. The Veteran's lower back disorder and radiculopathy service connection claims are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability prior to January 1, 2011 is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, right knee condition, and headaches have been reopened. The Board has remanded the cases to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The claim for an increased rating for the left knee prior to November 2, 2012, and from January 1, 2014, is remanded. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was withdrawn.,Claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip arthritis were both dismissed as new and material evidence was not received within the required timeframe.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need to consider additional evidence from a recent VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the left and right knees as there was no evidence showing that the Veteran's current knee disabilities were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities have been denied. The left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, while the right knee disability was previously rated at 10 percent prior to September 2, 2014, and currently rated at 20 percent from that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and breathing problems have been remanded due to the need for a medical opinion addressing whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's right knee instability and degenerative arthritis are rated at 10 percent, while the left knee instability is rated at 10 percent. A separate rating of 20 percent for meniscal tear of the left knee has been granted.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension, cerebrovascular accident (stroke), right homonymous hemianopsia (loss of vision due to stroke), and dizziness (residual of stroke) has been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for left hip arthritis, right hip arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating based on current functional limitations.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating based on current functional limitations.,The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating based on current functional limitations.

The Veteran's headaches and right knee disorder are found to be related to service, while the skin disorder is also granted as it was incurred in service. The rating for gout of the bilateral feet remains at 10%.

The Veteran's left knee strain and gastroesophageal reflux disease were remanded for further action due to incomplete records. The decision on the rating for left knee strain is granted with a 10% rating.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a right knee disability was denied as the new evidence did not provide a basis for reopening the claim.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a skin disability was reopened due to the submission of voluminous VA treatment records that established the presence of a current skin disability.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities: increased ratings for recurrent dislocation of the left knee and arthritis due to limitation of extension, as well as an earlier effective date for arthritis. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical records from OPM regarding the Veteran's 2005 disability retirement from USPS.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left knee disability was rated as 10 percent disabling, the hemorrhoids as 10 percent disabling, and attention disorder with short-term memory loss and cardiovascular disorders were not shown to be related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate examination and treatment records, requiring further evaluation by VA.

The Board denied service connection for right and left hip disorders as well as a left knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability.