Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar sprain and right knee patellar tendonitis, as well as a determination on whether he has sleep apnea that may be related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, and there is no evidence to warrant an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and right shoulder disorders are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was evaluated as mild prior to July 27, 2012 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating for his bilateral pes planus.,For his left and right knee disabilities, the Veteran's claim was denied due to lack of service connection as they were not linked to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records, particularly regarding his service-connected knee disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities as well as TDIU are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee disability and service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to the right knee disability, is denied. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's left knee disability is productive of painful motion and meniscectomies, warranting a separate evaluation of 10 percent. The instability claim was not granted as the Veteran's knee does not meet criteria for an increased rating based on instability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an additional left knee disability caused by his July 2007 TKA, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.,For service connection claims, the Board determined there is no evidence of a current left knee disorder or any in-service incurrence or aggravation that would support a finding of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee scar and traumatic degeneration of the 2nd left distal metacarpal joint, as secondary to a service-connected gunshot wound. The upper respiratory disability claim is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed low back disorder and right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis is service-connected, but his lumbar spine DJD cannot be linked to his period of active duty.

The Veteran's hepatitis C claim was not granted, but he received a combined rating of 10% for his right knee disability due to pain and instability.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial rating of 50 percent, effective November 2, 2016. Service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and bilateral foot disorder were denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease and lumbar spine disability are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus is rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The Board found no evidence to support a higher rating for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for the right hip, right knee, and right leg disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issues of entitlement to a compensable initial rating for calcific tendinitis of the left shoulder and entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence. The Veteran's right knee disorder is still under review.