Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and panic disorder without agoraphobia, bicipital tendinitis of the bilateral shoulder, chondromalacia patella of the bilateral knee, sinusitis, hypertension, tension headaches, pes planus, and hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease, render him unemployable for the period since March 25, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee arthritis are related to service, granting his claims for these conditions. The claim for hydrocephalus is remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by arthritis and a tear of the lateral meniscus, was found to warrant a 10 percent rating from July 1, 2007.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since the initial grant of service connection. The Board found that his current symptoms, including pain and limited range of motion, do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for brain disease due to trauma and granted service connection. Other claims have been addressed, with some issues resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and compensable ratings for his knee disabilities, as well as for the scars on his knees, are being remanded to allow for additional development of the record.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure all relevant evidence is considered in the decision on appeal. This includes obtaining updated VA treatment records, seeking SSA records, and obtaining addendum opinions from VA examiners.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied as he did not have qualifying military service during a period of war. The Board also found that the Veteran should be afforded VA examinations and opinions to determine whether his current respiratory disability, hearing loss, and other disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee strain, back disability (claimed as middle back condition), left shoulder strain, acid reflux (including heart burn) and traumatic brain injury are all granted.

The Board found that the reduction of the disability rating for right knee instability from 20 percent to noncompensable was proper based on material improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee and left lower extremity disabilities, as well as whether any current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right ankle and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected repaired torn cartilage of the right knee has been granted a 20% disability rating effective December 27, 2010. The condition is characterized by moderate recurrent lateral instability and removal of the medial meniscus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities, diagnosed as patellofemoral syndrome, were less likely as not related to his military service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee and right shoulder disabilities are service-connected as they are linked to injuries sustained during his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude all forms of gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is not individually unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder and arthritis did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's traumatic brain injury and obstructive sleep apnea are found to be service-connected. The PTSD is assigned a 50% disability rating, the left knee and right knee conditions are each rated at 10%, the shoulder strains are not service-connected, the wrist condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating, the spine strain is rated at 10%, the ankle strains do not warrant a higher rating, the hiatal hernia with GERD is rated at 10%, and the headaches are assigned a 30% disability rating. The Veteran's hypertension, DVT, restless leg syndrome, IBS, erectile dysfunction, and hypertensive cardiovascular disease are each rated at 10%.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed DJD of the knees is related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus disability, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.