Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a right foot disability, but denied service connection for a right knee disability including gout.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as there is no evidence of ankylosis or instability requiring additional compensatory devices.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since September 1, 1972 and at 20 percent since March 25, 2019. The current decision grants a rating of 20 percent for the period from September 17, 2009 to March 25, 2019, and in excess of 20 percent since March 25, 2019.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left lower extremity sciatica, lumbar spine disability, and left knee disability were denied. The right ankle and left ankle disabilities received initial ratings of 20 percent each.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, are denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of negligence in the January 2011 left knee surgery or that any additional disability was caused by such surgery.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for further development due to insufficient consideration of service treatment records from July and August 1970.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of private treatment records. The Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease and rheumatoid arthritis, will be reviewed for service connection.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disorder requires a higher rating than 10 percent, and has ordered additional development to assess his condition accurately.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids were initially rated noncompensable prior to March 28, 2016 and granted a 20% rating since then. The left knee disability claim was denied outright. The Veteran's gastric ulcer with GERD received initial noncompensable ratings prior to March 28, 2016 and has been rated at 10% since that date.,The Board found insufficient evidence of a current left knee disability or any in-service injury leading to the denial of service connection. The Veteran's gastric ulcer with GERD received initial noncompensable ratings prior to March 28, 2016 and has been rated at 10% since that date.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of low back and left knee disabilities have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The Board has dismissed all service connection and increased rating claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for left knee chondromalacia based on instability is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show 'moderate' subluxation or lateral instability of the left knee, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in the prior VA examinations and opinions. The issues include service connection for various knee, shoulder, hip, and ankle disabilities, all secondary to a service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral ankle disability, finding no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service.,Service connection was granted for a dermatological fungal disability of the bilateral foot.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities due to exposure in Southwest Asia, as they are not related to a specific exposure event or an undiagnosed illness. The Veteran's symptoms have been evaluated but no clear diagnosis could be made.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals on several issues, and some of the conditions are already rated appropriately.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neck, lower back, right hip, left hip, and left knee disorders due to a lack of compliance with VA's duty to assist in obtaining private medical records. The Veteran submitted new evidence from a private doctor that suggests his current conditions may be related to an accident in 1960.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining employment, so he is not entitled to a total disability rating based upon unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records, which may contain relevant medical information.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertriglyceridemia and recurrent periodontitis have been denied as these conditions are not considered disabilities for VA compensation purposes.,Multiple other claims were also included in the September 2014 remand, but service connection was either established or not transferred back to the Board. The Veteran's gout, LeFort I osteotomy residuals of the maxilla and mandible, kidney stones, and knee claims are being remanded for further development.