Knee Board decisions

The Board granted an increased evaluation for the Veteran's right knee disability and service connection for myoclonus as secondary to his service-connected right knee condition. The TDIU claim was also granted, but with a specific effective date of August 10, 2012.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability and reconsidering the claim in light of recent grants of service connection for lumbosacral strain and bilateral lower leg radiculopathy.

The Veteran's thoracic spine disability is rated at 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,Prior to April 7, 2017, the Veteran's fecal incontinence was rated at 30 percent. From April 7, 2017, it has been rated at 60 percent.,The Veteran's recurrent right ankle sprain is currently rated at 10 percent and his right knee medial collateral ligament strain is rated at 10 percent.,None of the conditions meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability and providing an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his low back condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for a new examination that addresses specific issues related to pain during range of motion testing.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a clothing allowance for calendar year 2014 due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's knee braces tend to wear out or tear her clothing. The case will be returned to VA for further review and potential examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board has determined that tinnitus is likely related to service, but the claim for left knee disability remains pending as additional development is needed.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for the initial ratings of left and right knee sprain with instability.

The Veteran's right knee is granted a 10% evaluation from August 20, 2012 for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage. The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome and arthritis are not rated higher.

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% likelihood that the Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, is related to his in-service injury. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right leg amputation below the knee as secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Board has received additional relevant evidence since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case and is remanding the case to allow for consideration of this new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his anterior cruciate tear, status post reconstruction, left knee is being remanded due to the need for consideration of new evidence and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection of bilateral knee disability and psychiatric disability. The Veteran's hepatitis C claim is denied as it did not result from VA care or treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability manifested by tingling and numbness of both legs and feet, cervical spine disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral elbow disorder, bilateral knee disorder, or depression or other acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are denied as secondary to service-connected mechanical low back pain.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating prior to April 1, 2013, and in excess of 10 percent therefrom, for right knee disability was granted. The effective date is not specified as the increase occurred on April 1, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for heart disability, right knee disability, and right plantar and calcaneal spurs. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure leading to current tinnitus, but no direct or presumptive link between his current heart disability and Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the reduction in rating for mechanical low back pain from 20% to 10% was improper due to failure to apply proper procedural requirements. The claim of service connection for a left knee disability is reopened based on new and material evidence received since the October 2006 decision. With reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran, her left knee disability is found to be related to service.

The RO granted the claim for service connection for left knee disability in an August 2017 rating decision, but as a result of this grant, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining STRs and arranging for an orthopedic examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities. The claims will be readjudicated following completion of the requested development.