Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's ankle, knee, hip and back disabilities are not service-connected or related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus with metatarsalgia.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability prior to May 9, 2014 and a compensable disability rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome with limited extension from May 9, 2014, to July 1, 2014.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including meniscus tears and prepatellar bursitis, has been rated at various levels since his initial claim. The current rating of 60% for the period after total knee replacement is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete development of records and need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the evidence submitted since the January 2014 decision was cumulative and did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim. The decision also noted that the Veteran's current diagnoses may be related to congenital deformities (bilateral genu varus and pes planus), but these are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and the appeals are dismissed as there is no remaining case or controversy.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of any current knee disorders, as the previous examination did not consider the Veteran's service in Korea and the loss of his service treatment records.

The Board dismissed the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for a left knee disability with instability and arthritis on an extraschedular basis as it was fully resolved by the April 2016 decision.

The Board denied service connection for left knee chondrocalcinosis, finding no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service or any other service-connected disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from July 31, 2007. Service connection for diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing. The appeal is not ready for appellate review until this hearing is scheduled.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disorder renders him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected knee and hip disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that manifested during or as a result of active military service.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the evaluation of his left knee osteoarthritis, right knee injury with post-traumatic osteoarthritis, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew these claims prior to a decision being made.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of bilateral degenerative joint disease of the knees due to lack of remaining matters in dispute. The Veteran's claim for residuals of a right hand injury, fracture right fifth finger, is denied as there is no evidence that the current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his left knee disability was denied as new and material evidence had not been received.,Service connection for COPD was also denied, with the Board finding that there is no causal relationship between service and current COPD.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU was granted, and her appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability were dismissed due to her agreement to withdraw those claims in exchange for the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for instability of the left knee from November 16, 2005 to November 8, 2006 has been dismissed as there is no legal basis for the Board to grant such a rating.