Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has granted service connection for back disability and right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are more likely than not related to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's headaches, PTSD, vertigo, degenerative changes of the cervical and lumbar spine, right knee with chondromalacia, left knee with chondromalacia, and right shoulder, status-post acromioclavicular separation have been rated based on their current severity.,No further rating increases are warranted for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's loss of the left lower leg, for which he uses a prosthetic limb, is considered a 'static disability.' The Board finds that his continued eligibility for the VA annual clothing allowance should have already been established in previous years and thus filing an application for 2015 was unnecessary. As such, payment of a VA annual clothing allowance for 2015 is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective July 18, 2015.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional examination and testing related to the Veteran's right knee condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, and right hip disabilities are not service-connected as they were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability and an evaluation of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disorder is granted as his current condition is considered to be related to his active duty service, specifically the combat injuries he sustained during his time in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess her service-connected lumbar strain and bilateral knee degenerative joint disease with tendonitis.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus disability had its onset in service and is granted as service connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing the Veteran with VCAA notices. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing service medical records and incomplete etiology opinions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and leg numbness disorders are not related to service. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, posttraumatic arthrosis of the right foot, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee was denied. The Veteran's current disabilities are rated based on their functional impact.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations and completion of a VA Form 21-8940. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated after the necessary information has been obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to address the Veteran's left knee conditions. The appeal is now pending again with the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the left and right knees are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, but his claims for back, right knee, and left knee disabilities have not met the criteria for service connection.