Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle, right hip, and left knee disabilities are aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. As a result, these conditions have been granted as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for multilevel spondyloarthropathy with disc bulging (claimed as low back pain) and right knee meniscal tear, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, neck, and low back disabilities as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for these conditions are not specified in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further investigation and clarification of her incarceration status, as well as an audit of her pension account. Additionally, there is a need to ensure proper notification regarding her right to appeal the overpayment of $18,692.07 in pension benefits.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations. Her eligibility for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or other conveyance is also being remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability, an increased rating in excess of 20 percent prior to August 23, 2017, and 40 percent thereafter, for right shoulder instability, an increased rating in excess of 20 percent prior to August 23, 2017, and 40 percent thereafter, for a back condition, and an increased rating in excess of 30 percent prior to August 23, 2017, and 70 percent thereafter, for PTSD.

The October 2001 rating decision denying service connection for a right shoulder disability was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The appeal is denied.,The October 2001 rating decision denying service connection for a right knee disability was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's ratings for his gouty arthritis of the bilateral knees, right foot, and wrist were combined into a single 60 percent rating. The issue is being remanded to clarify whether the left knee instability associated with left knee gouty arthritis was considered in this evaluation.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating may be warranted. The claim remains under appeal as higher ratings are available.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for various conditions, including low back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), and bilateral hearing loss. Additional evidence is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or events therein.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disability on the basis of secondary aggravation. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for his right knee arthritis, with instability, is denied. The earlier effective date of January 22, 1993, for the grant of service connection for left knee arthritis is granted.

The appeal for service connection for bipolar disorder claimed as memory loss is dismissed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cataracts of both eyes, obstructive sleep apnea with CPAP (claimed as sleep apnea), arthritis of knees, bilateral, arthritis of shoulders, bilateral, DDD at C4-5, C5-6, and C6-7, spondylosis with foraminal impingement at C5-6 and C6-7, claimed as arthritis of the neck, right shoulder tendonitis, tendonitis of both wrists, and spurs in fingers of both hands is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disorder, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The claim for a left knee disorder is reopened due to new evidence received since the previous denial in March 2010. Service connection has also been established for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder on a secondary basis as it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee due to lack of a VA examiner's opinion on whether these conditions are related to in-service military duties. The Veteran is also asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain his private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected mood disorder prevents him from maintaining substantially gainful employment due to its impact on his work and school abilities, as well as his physical disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities have been reopened, with the Board finding that new and material evidence has been received to support these claims.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's combat exposure during active duty in Vietnam is accepted as sufficient proof of in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's right knee disability is denied as there is no nexus between the current condition and his active military service.,Service connection for heart arrhythmia is denied due to lack of functional impairment of earning capacity.,Diabetes mellitus type II is not granted as there is no evidence of a diagnosed disability, only hyperglycemia and prediabetes.,Cerebral and cerebrallar atrophy is not granted as the Veteran's current condition does not have a nexus to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of frostbitten feet. The claims for left and right knee disabilities secondary to residuals of frostbitten feet are remanded.