Knee decisions — 2015

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

The Board has found that the Veteran's left knee and bilateral ankle disabilities are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected cold injuries to the feet. Therefore, these claims have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of his claims.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, with a separate 10 percent rating for instability. The claim of service connection for PTSD and depression has been reopened due to new evidence but no final decision on the merits has been made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, claimed as secondary to her right knee patellofemoral syndrome, is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection on all of his listed conditions was denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations and insufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic right shoulder strain, chronic right knee strain and degenerative joint disease, chronic bilateral hip strain, and chronic lumbar spine strain with right L5 radiculitis strain on a secondary basis to his service-connected left foot disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee strain is not related to an in-service injury and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities, considering his education and occupational background.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's right knee strain, meniscus degeneration, and chondromalacia patella.

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

The Board has granted service connection for left knee chronic synovitis and symptomatic patellar chondromalacia (arthritis), finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his in-service symptoms. Service connection was denied for a neck disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service-connected right lower extremity disabilities and prosthetic/orthopedic appliances.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities did not have onset during his active service, were not caused by his active service, and therefore denied service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left knee disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted with an effective date of February 17, 2007, but no earlier. The decision is based on the evidence showing that he had more than marginal employment until February 16, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and needs further examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic right and left knee pain is manifested by objective evidence of painful limitation of motion, which has not been attributed to a known clinical diagnosis. Therefore, service connection for bilateral knee disability due to an undiagnosed illness is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability was not incurred in service, is not presumed to have been incurred in service, and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The claim for hypertension was also denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right arm disabilities. The claims are therefore denied.