Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability, claimed as depression, has been withdrawn.,Service connection for hepatitis C and liver disease was denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service or secondary to another condition. New and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.

The Board has remanded the VR&E benefits claim due to pending appeals for compensation purposes, including service connection and a disability rating for PTSD. The Veteran's ability to obtain suitable employment is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating were denied. Service connection was not granted for right ankle disorder, left leg disorder, or back disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's other specified trauma and stressor related disorder was rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's left knee disability, thoracolumbar spine strain with IVDS, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy have all been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right and left knee arthralgia with osteoarthritis status-post total knee replacements are granted. The Board finds that the bilateral knee disorders were caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral hammer toes with acquired pes cavus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating before June 14, 2017, for painful extension of the right knee and for a rating greater than 10 percent for his right knee disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to inextricably intertwined with the underlying increased rating claims.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches and has remanded the issues of service connection for a skin disability, bilateral hip disability, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).,Service connection is also granted for a left knee disability that is proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD and hearing loss, have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis with Osgood Schlatters disease with instability is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and service connection for a left hip disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of shin splints or right ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.,The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative joint disease are likely not due to military service. The Board has also determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of blurred vision or shoulder disabilities for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in denying a higher initial rating for the Veteran's left knee condition and issues related to an earlier effective date for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased evaluation of various conditions, including left knee disability, hypertension, cervical spine disability, and a left arm disability. The issues are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology and severity of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Service connection is remanded for the Left Knee Disability issue.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically limitation of extension and flexion, were granted at 40 percent ratings effective October 24, 2011 for the right knee and March 2, 2017 for the left knee. A separate 10 percent rating was also granted for limitation of flexion of the left knee.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and further development is required.

The Board has remanded the claim for a VA examination to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome due to his failure to report for an earlier scheduled examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased level of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for a higher level of care at the rate specified under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(2) was denied as he does not meet the criteria for SMC under any provisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee conditions, finding that there was no evidence linking his current knee disabilities to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability was denied due to lack of evidence of disease or injury in service. The claim is not reopened as new and material evidence has not been received.,Service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder cannot be established as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, which requires a specific stressor event. Major depressive disorder was diagnosed but there is no link to service or an in-service stressor.,The Veteran's skin disability (presumably seborrheic dermatitis and actinic keratoses) is presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.,There is no evidence of a bilateral shoulder disability at any time during the pendency of the claim. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has a current disability or that it is related to service.,Diabetes mellitus was not present in service and there is no link between diabetes and service, including exposure to herbicide agents.,The bilateral eye disability (presumably macular disease, cataracts, and presbyopia) is presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. There is no evidence of a current disability or that it is related to service.,There is no evidence of a bilateral knee disability at any time during the pendency of the claim. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has a current disability or that it is related to service.,The lumbosacral strain was not present in service and there is no link between the condition and service.