Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine and right knee disabilities have been denied. The maximum schedular disability rating of 50 percent has been assigned for chronic headaches.

The Board has dismissed all issues due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10% prior to January 23, 2007. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating and denied his claim for an increased initial rating.

The Board has ordered another VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to his active duty service. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of June 28, 2007. The effective date for the TDIU is set at this point.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and a bilateral knee disability, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service. Service connection was also not granted for a dental condition due to lack of in-service trauma.

The Veteran's thoracic spine fracture and left knee chondromalacia patella have been evaluated at their current levels, with no evidence of incapacitating episodes or unfavorable ankylosis for the thoracic spine. The left knee disorder is currently rated as noncompensable due to its limited range of motion.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and left knee disorders are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of chronicity within one year post-service. The VA examiners concluded that any current conditions are more likely due to post-service occupational activities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and clarification of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to his service-connected left knee strain with chondromalacia was denied because the Under Secretary for Health or designee did not certify that the Veteran wears a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance that tends to wear or tear his clothing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee arthralgia, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The right knee disability is remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine, left foot plantar fasciitis, right and left knee disorders, and hearing loss. The Veteran is required to undergo further examinations to determine these issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability was not caused or aggravated by military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disorder has been found to be the primary cause of his right and left knee disorders, warranting a grant of service connection for these conditions. The Veteran is also granted an increased rating for his left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and service treatment records, as well as arranging for new medical examinations to assess his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease, left knee, was granted an initial rating of 10 percent effective March 16, 2009. The appeal for a higher initial rating and earlier effective date is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, as secondary to service-connected bilateral calcaneal spurs. The case is now before the RO for further development.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and thus the case is dismissed.