Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD claim is rated at 50 percent, hypertension at a non-compensable rating, low back disability and left knee disability are both remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to changes in the rating criteria for musculoskeletal disabilities, specifically right knee chondromalacia. The case will be returned to the Board after a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, effective March 31, 2017. The Board found no higher ratings were warranted for limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee and bilateral hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the onset and relationship of these conditions to her military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, left and right knee disorders, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are not addressed in this decision.

The petition to reopen claims for service connection for various disabilities is granted. The cases are remanded for further development and adjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee joint osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated as 10% for degenerative arthritis, with separate ratings of 10% for painful limitation of extension. The left knee is granted a higher rating beginning September 30, 2016, while the right knee remains at 10%. The appeal was denied for increased ratings prior to that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing it began during or was related to his military service. The decision also remanded the claims for left and right knee disabilities, as VA did not provide sufficient medical opinion regarding whether these conditions pre-existed service or were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent. The left knee, cardiac, and low back disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss has been withdrawn, and the issue is dismissed without prejudice. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for various disabilities are remanded.

The claims for service connection for left and right foot disorders, a right knee disorder, and a right shoulder disorder to include as secondary to lumbar strain have been reopened. The claim for hypertension has also been reopened.

The Veteran's total left knee arthroplasty has been rated at 30 percent, which is the minimum rating available for a prosthetic replacement of the knee joint. The disability manifests with intermediate pain and weakness in the affected extremity.

The Board has remanded the claims for asthma, right ankle disorder, low back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and bilateral knee disorder due to incomplete development of records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee and left knee arthritis, finding that the disabilities are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to her knee disabilities and a back disability. The Board has determined that these matters should be remanded for further development, including new VA examinations and medical opinions.

Service connection for tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, right knee strain, PTSD, sinusitis, and rhinitis (bacterial and allergic) is granted.,An effective date prior to February 17, 2016, for the grant of a 10 percent rating for right ankle strain is denied. Service connection for PTSD, sinusitis, and rhinitis (bacterial and allergic) is also granted with an effective date of February 17, 2016.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has found that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms. The right knee and left ankle disabilities are both remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left knee disability, both claimed as secondary to the Veteran's right ankle disability. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for the right ankle disability was also denied.,There is no indication that any exposure basis (e.g., burn pit, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune) played a role in the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee condition, including whether it is related to his service or secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.