Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability and joint pain.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Veteran's claim of a rating in excess of 10 percent for right thigh muscle injury is denied due to failure to report for necessary VA examination. The Veteran's SMC claim is also denied as he does not meet the legal criteria for payment at the housebound rate or based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further review due to the need to consider whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to new medical evidence and requests for additional records. The Veteran's bilateral knee and foot disabilities are being evaluated again.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left knee disorder is not causally or etiologically related to his service-connected disabilities, and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability (secondary to left knee), and left hip disability (secondary to left knee). The Veteran's left knee condition is deemed a congenital defect not subject to superimposed disease or injury during military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability was not incurred or aggravated during active service and is not related to any in-service injury. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right knee, right hip, and left hip conditions. The case will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions regarding the Veteran's pes planus and knee disorders.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a TDIU effective April 27, 2015. The right knee disability was not incurred in service and arthritis is presumed to have been caused by normal aging.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased level of SMC based on the need for additional aid and attendance under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(r) has been denied as he does not meet the legal criteria for such.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current left knee disorder, bilateral myopia, anemia, and tinnitus are not related to service.,Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as clarification of the nature and etiology of any current left knee disorder.

The Veteran's cervical strain disability is rated at 30% under the applicable schedular criteria, and an extraschedular rating is not warranted.,VA medical records indicate that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for various conditions, including generalized joint pain, right and left knee disorders, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, urinary disorder, warts, neuropathy of the extremities, high blood pressure, and erectile dysfunction. The appeals were decided on a direct service connection basis.

Service connection granted for patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees.,Hypertension was not incurred or aggravated in service, nor is it related to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee and ankle disabilities is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions, including congenital genu valgum and degenerative joint disease (DJD), are presumed to have existed prior to service. The Board finds that these conditions are related to his military service due to their progression from a pre-existing condition.