Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and therefore grants an extraschedular total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the Board has dismissed the appeal due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD and depression, is related to his military service. Service connection is granted for this condition. No other conditions are found to be related to service or due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his service connection claims, particularly concerning his bilateral pes planus and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee replacement resulted in chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness, warranting a 60 percent disability rating prior to July 7, 2016. The appeal is granted for the higher rating.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and new examinations are necessary to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his active duty service and denied service connection for this condition. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability remains pending.

The Veteran has withdrawn his claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected limitation of extension of the right knee, an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected scars of the face, service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and service connection for left foot arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle tendonitis and arthritis, as well as lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disorders. The acquired psychiatric disorder is not found to be related to his service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee condition, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and that any current condition is more likely secondary to his work history.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to a signed statement from his representative indicating he wishes to withdraw the issues on appeal.

The Board has interpreted the September 2012 correspondence as a motion for reconsideration rather than a claim for CUE, and thus dismissed the appeal of whether there was CUE in the denial of service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination of the Veteran's left knee lateral collateral laxity.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining medical records.

The Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed heart disability, and any complaints of chest pain are related to stress rather than a cardiac condition.,The Veteran's subclinical hypothyroidism did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a new opinion on his ability to function in an occupational environment due to his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify his claimed exposure and stressors, as well as to obtain any outstanding VA medical records. The AOJ will also attempt to verify the Veteran's in-service stressor concerning his service on a burial detail while stationed at the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, characterized as total knee replacement, right knee, is rated at 60 percent effective October 27, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome does not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the criteria for TDIU have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, classified as old/chronic Osgood-Schlatter's disease, was incurred in active military service.