Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for a left lung mass, status post left upper lobectomy, remains at zero percent due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a minimum 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's right wrist DJD was granted a separate initial rating of 10 percent prior to November 6, 2014. The issue remains on appeal for the left knee DJD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient development and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities have been granted, with a rating of 20 percent each effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability due to lack of evidence of current disability and insufficient medical opinion regarding causation.

The Board has ordered remand due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, and left knee disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has been granted a rating in excess of 30 percent, and he is now eligible for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The issue regarding the period prior to December 6, 2013, remains unresolved as it pertains to whether the Veteran can secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his right knee disability alone.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 8, 2007 and March 27, 2006 for right knee degenerative joint disease and coronary artery disease were denied as the earliest date of receipt of a petition to reopen his service connection claim was not within these periods.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, as well as a VA examination to address the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and he is now filing a new claim for compensation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate a secondary service connection issue for back pain. The Board will also consider whether the Veteran's TDIU claim can be granted on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee patella alta with chronic recurrent subluxation was incurred in service and her osteoarthritis is secondary to this condition. The appeal for service connection of the knees is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee and left ankle disorders were not incurred or aggravated by military service, as there is no evidence of such in-service injury or disease. The diagnoses are considered to be related to post-service activities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorder is not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA records and incomplete examination reports.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to errors in previous decisions and incomplete examinations. The Veteran needs a new VA examination for his right knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus (flat feet) was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition during the pendency of his appeal. The Board found that the recent VA radiology report did not support a current diagnosis of flat feet.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are not of such severity to preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.