Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's left knee disorder will be evaluated again based on the new evidence and testing.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the hysterectomy claim. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, sinus disorder, and right knee disorder have been denied. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities are not proximately due to or worsened in severity beyond normal progression of the respective disease by the service-connected cavus disease of the feet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and right shoulder disabilities are related to his active duty service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents and the condition did not manifest during or within one year after service. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied due to lack of sufficient additional service-connected disability to bring his combined rating to 70 percent or more.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a causal link between his current osteoarthritis and his in-service injury.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically left knee arthritis and right knee arthritis, were granted increased disability ratings. The Veteran was also awarded separate disability ratings for his service-connected instability of the knees.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of skin cancer is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran has established entitlement to SMC-L based on loss of use of his legs due to his service-connected back disorder, knee disorders and peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities. He also qualifies for SMC-O and SMC-R(1) based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left total knee arthroplasty and left knee impairment lateral instability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot cyst and left knee disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence does not support a relationship to service.

The combined effects of service-connected radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, chronic lumbosacral strain, and right knee disabilities do not present such an exceptional or unusual disability picture that the available schedular ratings are inadequate for the period of August 27, 1991 through October 12, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to a Joint Motion for Remand (JMR). The Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and left knee disabilities are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities of the left knee, right knee, neck, and lower back are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of right or left knee disorders and therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for his claimed back, bilateral hip, or left knee disabilities.,Therefore, service connection is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury, disease, or event to which these conditions can be linked.

The Veteran's right knee sprain warrants a rating of 20 percent effective March 1, 2017. The issues regarding left ankle fracture and TDIU remain unresolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis, right and left knee strains, and bilateral hip strains are related to service. The Veteran's current foot disabilities (right metatarsalgia and left pes valgus, plantar fasciitis) are also found to be related to service.,The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for cervical spine strain with degenerative arthritis, right knee strain, left knee strain, right hip strain, left hip strain, and right foot disability (metatarsalgia), as well as left foot disability (pes valgus and plantar fasciitis).

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his left ankle disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, and thus new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU beginning June 11, 2012. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities preclude substantially gainful employment.