Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that an effective date prior to March 31, 2009 for the award of a 20 percent disability rating for hemorrhoids is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing records, duty-to-assist issues, and inextricably intertwined claims. The Veteran's knee, hip, and back conditions are to be evaluated.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability evaluations for her service-connected left knee and back disabilities have been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of a higher evaluation based on the current criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims.,The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims.,The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine the nature and etiology of any current traumatic brain injury residuals, including headaches, memory impairment, poor sleep, head pain, and difficulty focusing.,The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records and Reserve service treatment records for additional development.,The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine the nature and etiology of any current skin disability of the feet, including whether it is related to his service-connected eczema.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new examination to assess his ability to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his PTSD, render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to severe impairment in work functioning.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion regarding his right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are attributable to service and have granted service connection for both right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted a non-compensable rating for actinic keratosis prior to November 21, 2015, and a 10 percent rating effective from that date.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected chondromalacia of the right knee has been granted, with a separate 10 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5260 added to the current 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a right knee disability and is denied. For her left shoulder disability, the evidence shows that she meets the schedular requirements for TDIU but there is no plausible basis to conclude that her service-connected condition prevents her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board granted increased ratings of 10 percent for right knee status post meniscectomy and left knee traumatic arthritis, effective from August 15, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability did not first manifest during service and is not causally related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current dermatophytosis is a continuation of his in-service fungal infection, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee, cervical spine, and lumbosacral spine disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's upper back and left knee disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD is currently rated at 20 percent, and his right knee DJD is currently rated at 10 percent. A separate 10 percent rating for right knee DJD based on limitation of extension was granted from November 12, 2014 to April 15, 2016.