Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims on appeal can be decided, and has therefore remanded the case to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining recent VA treatment records and providing an adequate examination of his right knee disability. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also being considered.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected bilateral pes planus and right ankle condition, granting service connection for this disability.

The Board has ordered a new examination to address the Veteran's right knee disability and its relationship to service, including his service-connected hammertoes of the feet. The case is also remanded for obtaining updated treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inextricably intertwined issues and new examinations are required.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities in July 2014, finding that the evidence did not support a link between current knee conditions and service.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the issue has been fully granted by a subsequent rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability is being remanded due to incomplete development, including the need for STRs from January 1986 to January 1989 and records from Dr. Albert Greisman since fall 1990.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including feminine issues to include tubal ligation, fungal infection of the skin, status post lumbosacral spine strain, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder, are not related to service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar disability is rated at 40 percent since February 6, 2012. He also has separate ratings of 10 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination regarding the severity of his service-connected left knee conditions, as there are recent treatment records indicating possible worsening.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically for left knee condition, fatigue with weakness, and joint and muscle pain. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right and left knee, finding that the Veteran's current knee disorders are due to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted, and he meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle, big toe, shoulder, cervical spine, left knee, and skin disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing their onset or causation in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities do not warrant higher ratings based on their current manifestations. The currently assigned 10% rating for each disability is maintained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. Therefore, service connection for aggravation of a back disability due to service connected bilateral knee disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, prior to December 15, 2015, was evaluated as noncompensable due to degenerative joint disease. The evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or additional functional loss.

The Veteran's right ankle fracture residuals necessitated convalescence to November 31, 2007. The temporary total rating was extended to this date.

The Board found that there is no evidence of instability or recurrent subluxation in the Veteran's right knee, and thus denied a separate compensable disability rating for degenerative joint disease based on instability. The Board also determined that an extraschedular rating was warranted for functional impairment other than limitation of range of motion.