Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, but the effective dates are not specified. The Veteran remains entitled to a separate rating for his painful and unstable amputation scar of the right hand index finger prior to October 23, 2008, and to an initial compensable rating thereafter.

The Veteran's gout of the bilateral knees and ankles is found to be incurred during active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's depression is rated as 50 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate throughout the appeal period. The claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability from April 11, 1988, and the TDIU prior to July 14, 2010, are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the issue of depression.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot condition and left knee condition, but denied both claims as service connection is not warranted.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and conduct further examinations, as well as locate any missing records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disability, or low back disability that is related to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder was resolved in 2000 and no longer meets the criteria for service connection. The bilateral knee and low back disabilities are found to be less likely proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, and if so, whether the reopened claim should be granted.

The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees with Osgood-Schlatter's disease. The case has been remanded to obtain updated treatment records from Martin Army Community Hospital.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for his bilateral knee disabilities, which he claims are related to parachute jumps in service. The case has been remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and right knee injury with traumatic arthritis are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for his claims seeking service connection for a left ankle disability and increased ratings for his lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities and has been granted special adapted housing.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability and granted service connection.,Service connection is also granted for heart disease, as it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess the current severity of his right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, right thumb, and abdominal strain disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and personnel records, as well as an examination to determine if his current left knee disorder may be related to his in-service accident.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left inguinal hernia disorder is not causally or etiologically related to his active military service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder and right knee disorder, as well as an initial increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the period prior to February 3, 2015, and in excess of 20 percent for the period from February 3, 2015, forward for a left clavicle disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision below.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and right ankle disabilities, as well as initial ratings for IBS and testicular pain. The claims for earlier effective dates were also denied.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have improved, and he is not entitled to increased ratings or service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and possible SSA disability benefits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disability and a bilateral foot disability, including as due to service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities.