Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran seeks an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left knee disability. The Board has requested a new VA examination to determine the current severity of this condition.

The Veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected psychiatric and right knee disabilities, which prevent him from performing activities of daily living without assistance.

The Veteran's psoriatic arthritis with knee, hand and finger involvement was rated at 40 percent from July 13, 2006 to September 18, 2012.,The Veteran's disc bulge L3-4 and L4-5 with facet arthropathy was rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee arthritis, status post cervical spine fracture with left radiculopathy, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's in-service parachute jumps are considered the primary cause of these conditions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for degenerative arthritis in the left knee. The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the claimed condition.

The Veteran's service-connected left femur, right ankle, right knee and right foot stress fractures have been rated as 10 percent disabling since May 24, 2007. The RO has now granted separate 10 percent ratings for the right knee, right ankle and right foot disorders effective April 29, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected exposure to hazardous substances during his military service, combined with his smoking habit, contributed substantially or materially to his death from lung cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including those allegedly related to exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show any in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions and that there was no indication of a nexus between any current disability and active duty.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disorder was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board has granted a combined 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities, based on arthritis with painful motion under Code 5003 and slight instability under Code 5257.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to various disabilities, including hearing loss, elbow and knee conditions, spine disorders, foot problems, and a scar. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's post-operative residuals of left knee strain have been granted a 10 percent disability rating, effective February 25, 2006. However, his scars of the left knee remain noncompensable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, right ankle, and right elbow disabilities other than fibromyalgia have been denied as there is no objective evidence of a current chronic disability in these areas.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The left knee disability was rated at 10 percent, the radiculopathy of the LLE was rated at 20 percent, and TDIU claim is pending.

The Board has reviewed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, but due to mixed results on some issues, a clear disposition could not be determined.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability was reopened, and he is now entitled to a 20 percent rating for his right knee patellofemoral syndrome. The claim for arthritis of the right knee was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's current left knee and bilateral foot conditions are likely related to judo activities during active service.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and back disabilities. Further development is needed to determine their current severity and whether they are related to service.