Knee Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability is at least as likely as not caused by undue stress due to his service-connected residuals of a right foot fracture, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing the Veteran with a new VA examination to assess his left knee disabilities. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease has been rated at 10 percent since January 27, 2010. The Board found that the current rating is appropriate as there was no evidence of instability or other conditions warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and an increased rating for residuals of left knee internal derangement with lateral instability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a mood disorder, right knee replacement, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a right knee scar, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee disorders, including instability and limited flexion and extension, have been rated under the applicable VA rating criteria. The Board has determined that an extraschedular rating is not warranted for these conditions prior to December 23, 2013.,For the period from September 1, 2013 to December 22, 2013, it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's service-connected disorders prevented him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed hip and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including patellofemoral syndrome and a meniscus tear, has been evaluated at the 10 percent rating since May 29, 2005. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant an increase in this rating.

The Veteran's arthritis of multiple joints, including bilateral knees, began during his active military service and is considered a direct result thereof.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his bilateral knee disability. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with this service connection issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing right knee disorder was aggravated by his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically whether any left knee disability preexisted service or was aggravated by service, and whether his right knee disability is proximately due to or caused by his left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records. The issues of service connection for psychiatric disorders, left and right knee conditions with lower extremity edema, and SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status are being addressed.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his right knee disability was granted, but service connection for the condition remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities as the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions began during his active service or were related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a left knee disorder and an effective date earlier than May 27, 2016, for a 20 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee pain and bilateral hearing loss claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his right knee, including the residual surgical scar. The issue will be reconsidered after the examination.