Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's depressive disorder, combined with other service-connected disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. Effective November 6, 2012, the Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's above-the-knee amputation of the right leg is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 70 percent, but he does not have at least one disability rated at 40 percent or more. The Board has referred his TDIU claim to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration due to his service-connected knee disabilities, tinnitus, and depression.

The Veteran's hypertension was shown in service and has been treated post-service. Service connection is granted.,The bilateral knee disorder (arthritis status-post total knee replacements) is proximately due to his service-connected left ankle disability. Service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling him for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, left knee, right knee, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and left ankle conditions. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred in or related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right and left knee chondromalacia as she needs a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right wrist disorder, back disorder, neck disorder, left knee strain, and right knee disorder are all denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Veteran reported an onset during active duty and the VA examiner opined that excessive noise exposure may have been a precursor to tinnitus at that time.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tendonobursitis and arthritis of the right knee, as well as instability of the right knee, are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. A new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of these conditions during flare-ups.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including a right knee cap disability, left big toe fracture, bullet fragments in the buttocks, left eye disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, allergies, heart disability, partial removal of sphincter muscle, sterility, and PTSD as there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including atrophy of left thigh muscles, cervical spine disorder, right and left knee patellar strains, right ankle disorder, left foot disorder, right great toe hallux valgus and hallux rigidus, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and diabetes mellitus. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder, specifically whether it is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee, and left testalgia disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for non-service-connected disability pension benefits and has remanded the service connection claims for left shoulder injury and right knee injury.

The Board denied increased evaluations for right knee degenerative joint disease and instability, as well as left knee degenerative joint disease. The criteria for a disability rating of 10 percent were met for each knee condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, bilateral hip disability secondary to a back disability, bilateral knee disability, and TBI claimed as a cerebral concussion. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for right knee tendonitis and remanded the issues of increased evaluations for asthma and cluster headaches.,For the period from November 3, 2009 to October 3, 2017, the Veteran's asthma was granted a 30% evaluation. For the period after October 4, 2017, the claim for an increased rating remains pending.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being received since the last decision in July 2014. The Veteran's mental health conditions and right knee disability have been treated with VA, but the claims for service connection are still pending.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition and denied an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied service connection for both the right knee disability and the psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.