Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, and hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus. The right knee disorder, ingrown toenails of the right foot and fungal infection of the right toenail, ingrown toenails of the left foot and fungal infection of the left toenail, and a left foot disorder are all being addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a vocational rehabilitation examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to April 13, 2010. The VA examiner found no limitation of extension or painful motion during flare-ups.

The Veteran was found eligible for a clothing allowance in 2011 due to his service-connected right knee disability. The claim was denied because the VAMC found no evidence that he continued to use the knee braces in 2012. However, the Board concluded that the Veteran used the knee braces 'frequently' and granted the clothing allowance for the 2012 calendar year.

The Veteran is granted a separate 30 percent rating for degenerative joint disease of the right knee effective from March 30, 2006. The claimant's original 20 percent rating for DJD remains in effect prior to that date.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability, specifically his patellofemoral syndrome, has been rated at 10 percent since the period on appeal. The current range of motion is such that flexion does not limit to less than 70 degrees and extension does not limit to more than 10 degrees.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and obtaining treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for her right knee disorder is pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed left knee and left ankle disabilities did not have their clinical onset in service or are otherwise related to active service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has decided the case requires additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service. The claim will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's Hepatitis C has been evaluated as 10 percent disabling throughout the appeal period, with symptoms of intermittent fatigue, malaise, and anorexia.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling error for a Board hearing. The issues of rating ratings, service connection, and effective date are still pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip disabilities. The claim for bilateral knee disability is granted as it is proximately due to a service-connected disability (bilateral ankle disabilities). The claim for bilateral hip disability remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disorders.

The Board denied service connection for visual field defect, right knee disability, diabetes mellitus, residuals of a stroke, and heart condition as the evidence did not support an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his current right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome has been manifested by limited flexion to at most 100 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) (lumbar spine disability), granted a higher rating of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability, and did not address the other issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU, and his evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of these conditions.