Knee decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including low back disability, radiculopathy of the left lower sciatic nerve, left hip or thigh disability, right hip or thigh disability, and right knee disability, are not related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10% prior to March 26, 2014 and from May 1, 2014. The Board found that the evidence does not show limitation of motion or instability warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is not rated higher than 30 percent.,Prior to March 16, 2018, the Veteran’s degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder was rated at 10 percent; since then, it has been rated at 20 percent. The left shoulder condition remains at 10 percent prior to March 16, 2018 and at 20 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was initially rated as noncompensable but is now rated at 20 percent; his cervical spine condition has been rated at 10 percent since March 16, 2018.,Left knee patellofemoral syndrome and right hip strain with osteoarthritis have both been rated at 10 percent. The left hip strain conditions are each rated at 10 percent prior to March 16, 2018 and at 20 percent thereafter for limited flexion.,The Veteran's right hip strain with osteoarthritis has a separate noncompensable evaluation for limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's left knee limitation of flexion prior to January 24, 2013 was rated at 10 percent and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with chondrocalcinosis has been properly rated throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's left knee scars have been assigned a noncompensable rating.

The Board has dismissed all the issues of service connection as they are related to a deceased Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition, low back condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability or a nexus to service.,The Veteran contends his current conditions are related to his duties as a drill instructor during active duty, but there is no indication that he sustained any injuries in the line of duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI, including residuals, is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depression and major depressive disorder), and headaches are granted service connection. Service connection for HTN is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for further evaluation of his left knee disability, including a VA examination. The reduction of his radiculopathy ratings is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions, as well as bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The remand is due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's increased ratings for left knee instability and TDIU claims are remanded due to the need for clarification of the September 2018 VA examination report.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The effective date for service connection of right knee osteoarthritis is denied. Right knee and ankle disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's disability ratings for lumbar spine DJD and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been restored to their prior levels.,The Veteran’s claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee bursitis and post-operative meniscal tear of the right knee was partially granted. He is now rated at 20 percent for right knee bursitis, with an additional 10 percent for symptomatic cartilage removal.

Service connection for a neck/cervical spine disorder, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine with degenerative disc disease and disc extrusions, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee retropatellar pain syndrome, and left varicocele is denied.,Effective dates for these grants are not being granted prior to March 25, 2013.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the lack of recent evidence regarding the current effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employment capacity. The Board requests new examinations to determine how his PTSD, tinnitus, residuals of TBI, and left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome affect his ability to work.

The Veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disability, as the cause of death (cardiac arrest, anemia/bleeding and coagulopathy) is attributed to gastrointestinal bleeding unrelated to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a new VA examination to determine if his right knee disabilities are related to service or caused by his service-connected shrapnel wound scar of the right knee.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen her claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of a nexus between her current disabilities and military service. As such, she is now entitled to service connection for these conditions.