Knee decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be provided with a VA examination to determine if his claimed bilateral knee disabilities were caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The claims are being remanded for this purpose.

The Board found no evidence of a skin or foot disability in service, and the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service. The left knee condition is also not linked to service.

The Veteran's athlete's foot, pseudofolliculitis barbae, tinea versicolor of the back, and dermatophytosis of the groin have been granted service connection. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for each condition.,The Veteran's low back disorder was initially granted in 2007 with a rating of 20 percent prior to November 16th, and has since been increased to 40 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death before a decision was made by the Board.

The Veteran's sole service-connected disability, a left knee disability rated at 30 percent, does not meet the minimum schedular percentage standards for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability. The case is remanded for further consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board found no causal relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral knee and back disabilities and his military service, thus denying both claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining STRs and arranging for VA examinations to determine if any of the claimed disabilities are related to service, specifically National Guard duty.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia and instability have been granted increased ratings to 40 percent effective January 28, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's post-operative right knee injury residuals, including a medial meniscal tear, originated during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and right total knee replacement disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left varicocele and residuals of a left knee injury, but denied them as new and material evidence was not provided to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis is aggravated by his service-connected psoriasis.

The Board has determined that reducing the ratings for chondromalacia of the right and left knees from 30 percent to 10 percent effective September 1, 2009 was proper based on improvement in range of motion as demonstrated by a March 2009 VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if his current spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disorders are related to his military service. The examiner must consider the Veteran's lay statements of in-service duties and continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's knee conditions, including traumatic left knee arthritis and right knee arthritis, were not granted increased ratings. The Veteran received a temporary total disability rating for traumatic left knee arthritis from June 9, 2011 to August 1, 2012.,Service connection was established for prostate cancer.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine and left knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his period of active service.

The Veteran's left knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, including chondromalacia patella, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder and right knee disorders were not incurred or aggravated by service, and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.