Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his left knee strain, hypertension, and tinea pedis. Issues regarding service connection for salivary gland disorder, right knee pain, and rating increases are also pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, finding that there is no evidence to suggest a direct nexus between his in-service injury and his current disability. The Board also noted that the first radiographic evidence of arthritis was more than one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's left knee and left hip degenerative arthritis are granted as they resulted from trauma in service.,Service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy, including as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees, cardiac murmur, and hypertension has been denied. The Board has found that there is no evidence to support these claims.,Regarding an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include chronic anxiety and PTSD), the Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding a right knee disability from July 21, 2005 VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for right knee and left shoulder disabilities. The issues of service connection for a left knee disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral foot disorder, and hypertension are remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative arthritis of both knees, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other compensable symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to potential aggravation by service-connected conditions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding symptomatology will be considered.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened, and the Board finds that a remand is necessary to assess their current severity levels.

The Veteran's right knee replacement has been rated at 30 percent since April 1, 2007. The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The decision also noted that some of the issues are related to a service-connected lumbar spine disorder, but these secondary claims have not been granted.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the January 2020 remand order and thus, the claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain a new VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's secondary disabilities were aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a right foot disability, finding that the current disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right leg condition was granted a 10 percent rating prior to March 2, 1972 and then increased to 20 percent from September 21, 2009 through April 27, 2010. A 30 percent rating was granted from June 1, 2010 through January 13, 2015.,The Veteran's service-connected right thigh neuropathy was granted a 10 percent rating prior to October 21, 2010 and then increased to 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's service-connected right ankle condition has been rated as 10 percent since October 21, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 7, 2016 for the award of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and left ankle disability have been denied.,An effective date of January 7, 2016 has been assigned for the award of service connection for right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee condition may have worsened since his last VA examination, and therefore a new examination is needed. The issue of TDIU remains inextricably intertwined with the left knee increased rating claim.

The Veteran's fracture of the L3 transverse process is rated at 20 percent. Service connection for other conditions, including a separate lumbosacral spine disability and peripheral vascular disabilities, are denied. Other service-connected issues remain pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of increased ratings for right knee conditions and entitlement to TDIU are also remanded.