Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran is also being asked to provide information about his medical history and any relevant private treatment providers.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and reasonable doubt must be resolved in favor of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on the Veteran's TDIU claim and referring it to the appropriate department officials for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Codes 5261 (limitation of extension) and 5257 (recurrent subluxation or lateral instability). A separate 10 percent rating, but no higher, has been granted for lateral instability in both knees effective August 5, 2014. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's original claim for service connection for a right knee condition was denied in June 1987, and the decision became final. The Veteran did not file a notice of disagreement or submit new and material evidence within one year. He requested to reopen his claim on September 3, 2008, which led to the grant of service connection for a right knee condition effective from that date. The Board denied an earlier effective date as it was the first date VA received written communication from the Veteran seeking to reopen his previously denied claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for a temporary total convalescence rating following right total knee arthroplasty surgery in October 2015, as the surgery was performed due to nonservice-connected right knee arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances related to knee braces, a manual wheelchair, diabetic shoes and inserts, and topical medication were denied. The decision grants payment of a clothing allowance for bilateral knee braces used due to service-connected disabilities that wore out his clothing in 2017.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for DJD of the left knee and left knee laxity was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating more than 10 percent for DJD prior to March 3, 2018 or for left knee laxity on and after March 3, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee and foot conditions due to inadequate examination findings. The examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current knee pain represents a functional impairment of earning capacity, and whether his preexisting pes planus was clearly and unmistakably not aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's right knee disability has increased in severity since his last VA examination, and he should be scheduled for a new examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection of a left knee disability is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim, but remands the issue of entitlement to service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for multiple sclerosis, left hip replacement, right knee replacement, spine disability, erectile dysfunction, and ulcerative colitis due to further development being necessary.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for updated VA examinations of the Veteran's knees.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for left ankle disability. The claim of service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease was reopened due to new and material evidence, but the claim remains denied as there is no causal relationship between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder were denied as there was no evidence to support an in-service onset or aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is rated at 10 percent for limitation of motion and a separate 10 percent rating for mild instability, effective June 2, 2015.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for ruptured spleen, residuals of eye fungus, and bilateral knee arthritis. The appeals are stayed due to a stay on adjudications affected by the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019.

The Board has remanded both claims due to insufficient rationale in the April 2016 VA examination report regarding whether service aggravated a pre-existing left knee disability. The Veteran's claim for SMC is also remanded as it could significantly impact the determination of his entitlement to SMC.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not established as the Veteran's STRs did not show any symptoms or treatment related to these conditions during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of his knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.