Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examination and treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for chondromalacia patella of the right knee with degenerative changes, arthritis of the right ankle, and DDD of the lumbar spine with collapsed discs. The Veteran's claims for other disorders are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the provision of outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for back disability, but denied for thyroid cancer, acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability resulted in moderate incomplete paralysis of the right upper radicular group and severe incomplete paralysis of the right upper radicular group from April 7, 2015. The left upper radicular group also experienced moderate incomplete paralysis during this period. For the entire appeal period, his right knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis was rated at 40 percent, while his left knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis was rated at 30 percent. His left eye corneal scar with single dot retinal hemorrhage superimposed on refractive error with presbyopia received a separate 10 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right long finger arthritis and secondary service connection for right knee disability (meniscectomy and arthritis) as related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 40 percent disability rating for his left knee disability was denied as it was not received within one year from the date as of which it was factually ascertainable that an increase in disability had occurred.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and left shoulder disabilities were granted with effective dates of September 10, 2012. The Veteran met the criteria for a 10 percent rating for his left knee disability as of that date, and a 20 percent rating for his left shoulder disability as of that date.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death is related to his service-connected disabilities, specifically the morphine prescribed for his service-connected left knee disability. As a result, the Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck, back, right knee and left knee disabilities did not have a direct relationship to his military service. The VA examiners could not establish chronicity of these conditions from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities, diagnosed as arthritis and spurs, are related to injuries sustained during service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's pancreatic cyst, liver cyst, renal cyst, left knee disorder, and initial higher disability rating for COPD. The COPD issue was granted with a 30 percent disability rating effective March 13, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee is granted. The issue of service connection for left knee disorder remains pending as it may be related to military service or secondary to a now-service-connected condition. Service connection for hearing loss in the right ear cannot be established without resorting to mere speculation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and consideration, including review of new evidence submitted after a previous SSOC. The issues include increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, earlier effective dates for right hip osteoarthritis (flexion, extension, and impairment), and service connection for degenerative joint disease, left knee.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary regarding the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased disability ratings for right knee and right hand disabilities, as well as service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran will be provided with adequate notice at his current address of record and scheduled for VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's right knee disability was not rated higher than 10 percent prior to March 29, 2017 and 20 percent thereafter. The Board denied entitlement to a TDIU prior to July 17, 2014 as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and arranging VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and right knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional service records and arranging for VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and left knee disability are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD and TDIU prior to January 3, 2012 are denied. The Board finds that the Veteran is not entitled to a higher evaluation for his PTSD or entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.