Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis with IVDS, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and right knee instability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested the withdrawal of his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the residuals of left knee arthroscopy and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction prior to January 7, 2013, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess her left knee and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 17, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, bilateral cataracts, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.,The Board found no link between the Veteran's current diagnoses of diabetes mellitus and bilateral cataracts with his active duty or National Guard service.

Throughout the rating period on appeal, the Veteran's left knee disability was manifested by pain productive of limitation of motion no worse than 105 degrees of flexion and 0 degrees of extension. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent were not met.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 30 percent for severe instability since August 25, 2015.,A separate 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and service treatment records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder, knee, ankle, and back disabilities are also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the case to seek a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, including whether it is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the knees is proximately due to his service-connected ankle disorders, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with MDD was rated at 30 percent prior to November 24, 2015. The rating for his right TKR remains at 10 percent from April 14, 2016. His tinea corporis with eczema is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and for a new VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered after the additional information is obtained.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling under Diagnostic Codes 5010-5261, which includes a separate rating for posttraumatic tricompartmental degenerative joint disease with malunion of the medial tibial plateau (shown with loss of extension) and another for severe posttraumatic tricompartmental degenerative joint disease with malunion of the medial tibial plateau. The Veteran's left knee disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for PTSD, right knee disability, and tinnitus. The claim to reopen service connection for a right hand disability was also denied. No new rating decision has been issued since these decisions.

The Veteran's TBI residuals have been rated at 10 percent since November 29, 2010. The rating was increased to 40 percent effective May 11, 2011 and then decreased back to 10 percent effective June 16, 2016.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at a combined 20 percent, based on instability and arthritis. The rating will remain in effect until further notice.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee condition as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, based on VA treatment records showing abnormal weight-bearing and an antalgic gait.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% disabling effective July 26, 2010. As a result of this rating, he is eligible for special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) due to having additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more (housebound rate). The Veteran's TDIU claim is moot as his PTSD alone meets the criteria for a total disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including hypertension, bilateral lower and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left jaw disability, head disability, right leg disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and back disability, were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or in-service onset. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection based on direct service incurrence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected right and left hallux valgus and pes planus. However, there is no evidence of current foot arthritis.