Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney stones, bilateral knee disability, neck disability, and low back disability are not service-connected as they do not have a direct link to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected pes planus caused his current arthritis in his ankles, knees, right hip, and low back. The neck disability is not considered secondary to the service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's left knee unicompartmental arthroplasty performed in September 2010 qualifies for a one-year temporary total disability rating followed by at least a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various disabilities, and the case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine the current severity of his acne vulgaris, deviated septum, and residuals of a fractured right fourth finger.

The Board denied the claim of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria. The effective date remains December 1, 1994.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a left knee injury or arthritis within one year of separation from service, and thus cannot establish service connection for his current left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is not related to his service or his service-connected right knee disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's use of left knee and left foot/ankle braces, as well as his back brace, caused more damage to clothing than one brace alone. The right knee brace was denied because the Veteran is not service-connected for any right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder, finding that it is not etiologically related to service or due to or aggravated by her service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder) are not related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining new VA examinations and retrieving any outstanding medical treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim requires additional examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability. The case is therefore being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's chronic infections are related to his service-connected left knee total knee arthroplasty, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability and address his complaints of buckling. The case will be reviewed again after this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they related to a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted as he is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disorder and liver disorder have been granted increased ratings, with the left knee disorder receiving a separate rating for a tender scar.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent effective February 4, 2015. The cervical spine disability is rated at 50 percent effective that date.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disability is granted, and he is assigned a 30 percent rating for his service-connected discogenic disease at C5-C7 with muscle spasm and C4-C5 small posterior disc protrusion. The other claims are denied.