Knee Board decisions

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right knee disability, which she contends is related to her service-connected left knee disability. The Board finds that an additional VA examination and development are necessary before the claim can be decided.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus; entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the right knee; entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability; entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine prior to December 20, 2016 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter; and entitlement to a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee and shin splint disabilities are related to his service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his knee disabilities, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to evaluate the severity of his service-connected right and left knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of fracture right talus and medial malleolar, and status post right knee posterior cruciate ligament and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction have been denied.,No effective date has been assigned as the claims are still pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee and low back disabilities are not related to service, as there were no chronic symptoms during or within one year after service. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting left knee disorder did not permanently worsen during service and is not caused by his service-connected right knee disorder. Therefore, service connection for a left knee disorder cannot be established.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to determine if the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. The case will be returned to the AOJ after further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination reports, and a new examination is needed for range-of-motion testing on active and passive motion and in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing positions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including those related to Agent Orange exposure, were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in many of the claimed conditions and did not find a link between any condition and active military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's death was caused by diffuse pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, which the Board finds is service-connected due to exposure to silica fibers in service. The claims for accrued benefits based on pending claims for service connection for various conditions are also granted.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of service connection for disabilities of the right shoulder, right wrist, left knee, bilateral knees, and cervical spine has been granted. The issues have been remanded to obtain any additional VA treatment records and determine if a VA examination is required.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all found to be related to service. The Veteran is granted higher initial ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn. The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right testicular/groin disability, right leg disability, or lumbosacral spine disability. Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, including postoperative meniscectomy residuals and degenerative joint disease, did not exhibit symptoms that are already compensated by the existing ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5003, 5010, 5260, 5261, and 5257. Therefore, a separate compensable rating for postoperative left meniscectomy residuals is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a supplemental opinion from the February 2017 VA examiner. The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have begun during military service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds that a higher initial rating of 20 percent is warranted for limitation of motion in both knees, with consideration given to additional functional loss during flare-ups.