Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee conditions, finding that there is no nexus between his current diagnoses of degenerative joint disease (DJD) and his in-service knee pain and treatment. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the DJD began during service or is otherwise related to the in-service knee injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection due to additional evidence being added to the record, including VA examinations of his cervical spine, thoracic spine, right knee, and left knee. The claims will be reviewed again with consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied effective October 31, 2013.,Effective dates prior to October 31, 2013, are not warranted for the grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence and requests for updated VA examinations, SSA records, and employment education information. The Veteran's disabilities are expected to be evaluated in detail.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's left knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea claims will be reviewed again with new information.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities rendered him unable to work, leading to a TDIU and the cause of his death being attributed to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability was denied, and the effective date for the increase in disability is set at April 30, 2013. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction claim was also denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for compensable ratings for right hip degenerative joint disease with limitation of extension and impairment of the thigh, as well as the appeal to restore a 30% rating for left knee disability. The decision also noted that the Veteran underwent left knee replacement surgery approximately five months after the reduction in his rating went into effect.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. A 20 percent rating, but no higher, effective November 4, 2010, has been granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The increased ratings for left knee disability and bilateral foot disability were denied. An increased rating in excess of 60 percent for a back disability was also denied.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee condition and back condition are being remanded for further development.,Additional evidence or clarification is needed regarding the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 40 percent, and his right knee disability is rated at 20 percent. He also received a separate 10 percent rating for slight lateral instability of both knees, and was granted TDIU.

The Board dismissed the appeals concerning entitlement to service connection for a low back condition, right knee and lower leg condition, PTSD, and granted the appeal for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right knee disabilities have been reopened, and he is now entitled to a 20% evaluation for each shoulder disability. Service connection for the lumbar spine disability has not been established.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities as the evidence does not show a relationship to service.

The Veteran's left knee disorder and erectile dysfunction are service-connected, but the right knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma are not.,Service connection is granted for erectile dysfunction as secondary to hypertension. The other conditions remain denied.,There is no evidence of a current cystalgia (pain in the bladder) disability, so service connection is denied.,The Veteran's right knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma are not service-connected.,Service connection for the cervical spine disorder is granted as it is related to a low back disorder. The other conditions remain denied.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss due to inservice noise exposure. The other conditions remain denied.,Service connection is granted for bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and asthma due to inservice noise exposure. The other conditions remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to physical and mental impairments, which has been granted for special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's left total knee arthroplasty revision necessitated convalescence up to June 23, 2016. The Board granted an extension of a temporary 100 percent rating for convalescence due to the surgery.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and left ankle chronic posterior tibialis tendinopathy and talar edema, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence. The claims of service connection for other disabilities remain remanded for additional development.