Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU. The Board also remanded for additional examinations of his right and left knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and denied entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, and left knee replacement residuals. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including increased ratings for various knee and foot conditions. The appeal is also remanded for additional development of records from SSA and VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and reopened the claim for service connection for a right hip disability as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran's appeal is granted on reopening, but not on merits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and knee conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's military service and training environment contributed to his current condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome with symptomatic chondromalacia of the patella with synovitis, right knee, and left knee have been denied as his flexion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5020.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for the right knee osteoarthritis and subluxation issues.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include arthritis, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of increased ratings for residuals of stress fractures of the left and right tibia, service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a left knee disorder and vision disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection for her left knee condition, which she contends was caused by her right knee degenerative arthritis with chondromalacia. For her vision disorder, she asserts that it is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right hip and right knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability due to conflicting medical opinions. The VA will obtain additional records and schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine if there is a link between his service-connected right ankle disability and his current right knee, hip or back conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims were denied in a February 2006 rating decision. He filed to reopen the previously denied claims on January 10, 2011, and they were granted effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examination opinions and requests for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial disability ratings for his right and left knee injuries, as well as an increased rating for his right ankle disability. The case was previously before the Board in November 2016, where it was remanded for further development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of prostate cancer has been reopened, and the issues of service connection for left and right knee conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities are granted. The claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's attorney indicating a wish to withdraw his appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with panic disorder is granted a rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. Ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of both knees remain at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for the residuals of his right knee meniscectomy based on limitation of motion was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residual scarring from his right-knee meniscectomy was also denied. The VA examiner noted that the scars were neither painful nor unstable.