Knee decisions — 2015

The Board found that the Veteran's knee disability is not related to service and denied her claim.

The VA determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his spine disability was denied due to failure to report for a scheduled examination.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and it is not related to service.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is found to be secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability and limitation of flexion due to osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent. The appeal for higher ratings has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The lumbar spine disability is not more than 20 percent disabling, the left shoulder strain prior to January 19, 2011, does not meet a higher rating, bilateral pes planus claim was withdrawn, right knee and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome do not meet a higher rating, service connection for a left hip disorder is denied, service connection for right and left elbow disorders is denied, and service connection for a right ankle disorder is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury. The right ankle disability appeal was dismissed due to withdrawal by the appellant.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability and remanded it for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the left knee disability and its relationship to service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the August 2012 VA examiner's opinion is inadequate and requires further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the prior examiner or arranging for a new examination if deemed necessary.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability and obtain all outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis and right knee arthritis, finding that the current conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the issuance of a statement of the case.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability was incurred in service, but denied his claim for a right ankle disability as there is no evidence of arthritis within one year post-service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including a surgically absent meniscus with symptomatic pain to palpation and a torn ACL, warrants a 10 percent rating. The right knee disability is not service-connected.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee laxity and left knee arthritis have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 5, 2011.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for left knee instability and a 30 percent rating for degenerative arthritis with limited extension, but the Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings as his symptoms do not more nearly approximate those required for a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's GERD, anal fissure, left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back disability have been granted increased ratings. The GERD has been rated at 30 percent effective June 25, 2015.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a TDIU based on his service-connected right knee disability, finding that he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to functional limitations related to his right knee condition.