Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's Bell's palsy, left knee degenerative joint disease, and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease have been granted service connection. The Board has also found that the Veteran is entitled to higher disability ratings for his left knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed leg disability, and the Board finds that his hip, knee, and ankle disabilities are not related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of the medical records from Fort Leonard Wood submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability and whether a low back disability is related to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's eligibility for an annual clothing allowance needs to be re-evaluated due to a lack of documentation. The case is being remanded to obtain and review the necessary records, including the April 14, 2010 Eligibility Determination for Clothing Allowance and the August 24, 2010 review.

The Veteran is service connected for multiple knee and mental health conditions. The Board finds that the combination of these disabilities renders him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, thus granting a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to schedule a VA examination and consider the most recent treatment records for his right knee disability, including arthritis with limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (rated at a combined 90%) are shown to render him incapable of maintaining regular substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability and low back disability are both service-connected, with no issues regarding secondary service connection or presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's left knee torn meniscus disability is rated at 20 percent, effective February 1, 2008. The Veteran's actinic keratosis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence supports the award of a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's left knee replacement is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on his symptoms of pain and weakness. The condition does not meet the criteria for ankylosis or severe painful motion/weakness.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder. The previous denial was based on the finding that the Veteran's knee pain resolved with treatment in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran does not have, and has not had since filing his August 2009 claim, a diagnosed right arm, left arm, or left knee disability. Therefore, the Board finds that service connection for these disabilities is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues of service connection for various disabilities remain on appeal.

The Veteran has a bilateral knee disability that is the result of disease or injury incurred during active military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including meniscectomy and arthritis, was rated at 10 percent prior to July 26, 2011. From September 1, 2012, the Veteran received a 30 percent rating for his total knee arthroplasty.