Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and right ankle disabilities are not related to his service or a service-connected disability, and thus cannot be granted service connection.

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

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to have originated during service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities require additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's service dates and obtain relevant TRICARE treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for aid and assistance of others for dressing, bathing, and feeding. The Veteran is also prone to falls due to his service-connected disabilities, necessitating regular aid and attendance.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the denial of service connection for right knee and right shoulder disabilities. The low back and left knee disabilities were not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is denied as he does not have any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee DJD status post total knee arthroplasty with residual contracture is granted. The issue of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for the same disability is dismissed as moot.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and back disability. However, the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of neck, bilateral hip, or acquired psychiatric disabilities, and there is no competent medical evidence linking any of these conditions to his military service.

The Board granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent for service-connected right hip strain, status-post arthroscopy with surgical scars. The Veteran's right knee disabilities are no longer in dispute due to his withdrawal of appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to his in-service injury and denied service connection for this condition. The skin disorder claim was not addressed due to lack of a statement of the case (SOC).

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disorder and granted it. The claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), and tuberculosis were also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The diagnoses of major depressive disorder and paranoid personality disorder are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or retaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, and low back disability are related to service. Service connection is granted for all three conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, manifested by pain and weakness with limited flexion to 130 degrees, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's left knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and noting that any left knee symptoms were not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sinus disorder, back disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current, chronic disabilities involving his right knee, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or fibromyalgia. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.