Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a leg disorder, claimed as secondary to her service-connected right knee disability, was denied. The RO also confirmed the previous denial of the left knee disorder claim and denied the GERD claim on the merits.,The Veteran's attempt to reopen her previously denied claims for left knee disorder (secondary to right knee disability) and GERD were unsuccessful.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and denied service connection for a right hand disability as a residual of a stroke. The Veteran's back condition is rated at the maximum available rating, but his psychotic disorder and TDIU claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder, bilateral hand disability, and bilateral knee disability have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities during the pendency of his claim.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance was denied as there is no documented provision of a manual wheelchair or other qualifying prosthetic or orthopedic appliance that tends to wear or tear his clothing, and the medications prescribed do not cause irreparable damage to his outergarments.

The Veteran's right knee disability is service-connected, and he was assigned a 10% evaluation for posttraumatic arthritis of both his right and left ankles. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board found no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's service and his current right knee disability, and concluded that it was not incurred or aggravated by any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and temporary total evaluation are being remanded due to incomplete records, particularly from his active duty period in March and April 2008. Additional development is needed including a search for missing STRs, verification of all periods of service, and an examination to determine the relationship between any right knee disability and service.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease as of May 29, 2008. The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were rated at 10 percent each.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claims for increased ratings and service connection were not substantiated by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis, history of chronic synovitis, and chondromalacia patella was manifested by pain and x-ray evidence of arthritis with painful motion limited to no worse than flexion to 65 degrees with pain and extension to 5 degrees with pain prior to July 11, 2014. From May 20, 2014, the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis, history of chronic synovitis, and chondromalacia patella was also manifested by slight instability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disabilities in February 2015, finding that the evidence did not support a grant of benefits.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-surgery and with degenerative arthritis, has been evaluated at a 10 percent rating since the initial grant of service connection. The current examination findings do not warrant an increase in this rating.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right knee or leg disability in service, and the Veteran's current right knee condition is not shown to be otherwise related to his military service. The skin rash was not diagnosed during service, and there is no objective evidence supporting a current diagnosis of lymph node swelling. The psychiatric disorder is not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee instability is addressed separately. The effective date earlier than February 13, 2008, for the grant of service connection for left knee instability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of left knee disability and service connection for right knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including updated VA examination and a statement of the case for the right knee issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left foot was incurred during active service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. The claims for a left knee disability and a left ankle disability are being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine their etiology.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claims for service connection for left knee disability, migraine headaches, and left ankle disability. A VA examination is needed to address these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for a right femur fracture and left knee disability due to the filing of a notice of disagreement. The Veteran will be provided with a statement of the case addressing these matters.

The Veteran's left knee meniscal tears are currently rated at 20 percent, and his left knee instability is rated at 10 percent. Both conditions meet the criteria for their respective ratings.