Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected COPD and bilateral knee disabilities are found to be at least as likely as not a cause for why the Veteran required assistance with activities of daily living. The VA has made errors in obtaining relevant medical records, and thus remand is necessary to obtain these records and provide an addendum opinion.

The Board denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and chronic disruption of the cruciate ligament, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, back, knee, and neurological conditions. The evidence does not support a link between these conditions and his military service.,There is no medical evidence linking any of the claimed disabilities to service or to a service-connected disability.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the right knee disability and has remanded the issue of service connection for the left knee condition, status post-arthroscopy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless that he is in need of regular aid and attendance of another person or housebound status, thus his claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee condition, and right knee condition were previously denied. New evidence has not been received to readjudicate these issues.,The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus was also remanded due to the need to corroborate his assertions of Vietnam exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by his military service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's left knee scars are being remanded for a VA examination to determine their severity, as the current evaluations do not consider all relevant criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active military service.

The Veteran's right knee instability and meniscal tear have been granted ratings, with the meniscal tear receiving a higher rating due to frequent episodes of pain, locking, and effusion. The left knee instability has also been granted a rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disorders are granted service connection.,The Veteran's right foot skin disorder and left foot skin disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left knee instability was granted a separate 20 percent rating, effective from April 17, 2012. The issue of increased rating for limitation of motion remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for degenerative arthritis of the spine and left knee strain due to additional evidence being added to the record.

The Veteran's service-connected left patellar fracture and patellar instability have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's service-connected left knee limitation of extension has been granted, but at a noncompensable level.

The Veteran's PTSD with Major Depression is granted a 70 percent rating prior to December 14, 2010 and from December 14, 2010 to March 18, 2018. Service connection for Peyronie's disease and Left knee disability are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused the current conditions.,There were no service treatment records available to establish an in-service incident. The Veteran's lay statements about his knee injury during service were not credible due to inconsistencies with other medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine condition and lower extremity radiculopathies, have resulted in a loss of use of both lower extremities. The Board has determined that the Veteran is eligible for specially adapted housing due to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder strain, left knee patellofemoral syndrome (lateral instability), and right knee patellofemoral syndrome due to inadequate examinations conducted in August 2010, September 2011, April 2012, and January 2016. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA examination to address the frequency, duration, characteristics, severity, and functional loss during flare-ups of his disabilities.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for the issue of an effective date prior to April 17, 2015 for the 50 percent rating assigned for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis. The issues of increased ratings for costochondritis and knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by arthritis and a meniscus condition, is not rated higher than the current assigned ratings of 10 percent for arthritis and 20 percent for the meniscus condition.