Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's right knee disability, which includes a history of total knee replacement surgery, is currently rated at 30 percent since October 1, 2010. The Board found that the symptoms do not warrant an increased rating as there was no evidence of severe painful motion or weakness, extension limited to more than 30 degrees, or nonunion of the tibia and fibula with loose motion.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a clothing allowance due to lack of indication from a designated VA party stating that his knee orthotics tend to wear or tear clothing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Osgood-Schlatter's disease, right knee, with chondromalacia of the patella is due to service and has been aggravated by service. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board grants entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, sinusitis, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions and issues. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of frostbite, chest pain, right arm disorder, left wrist disorder, right shoulder disorder, left elbow disorder, or right foot disorder. The back disorder claim was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including new VA examinations and consideration of extraschedular considerations.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 20 percent, and his left knee scar was assigned a noncompensable evaluation. The Veteran requested to withdraw the appeal regarding the left knee scar.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability was aggravated during service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a right foot disability is being remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, vertigo, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. His claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for scheduling a hearing at the St. Petersburg, Florida RO.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of all evidence. The issues include cervical spine disability, fibromyalgia, left knee arthralgias, cervical neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and thoracic outlet syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA outpatient records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and an initial compensable evaluation for right hand neuropathy are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his back disability, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection must be remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee osteoarthritis is not related to an injury sustained during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and denied his claim of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a stress fracture of the left knee or tibia, heart disability, and hearing loss was denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for calluses of the right and left feet, finding that they are likely due to conditions present during active duty. Service connection was also granted for a right knee disorder, but further examination is needed as there may be evidence of arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his left knee disability. The issue remains whether he should receive a higher rating than 20 percent.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of bilateral knee disability and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.