Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's skin condition and right leg amputation are not service-connected, so he does not qualify for an annual clothing allowance.

The Veteran's time at Officer Candidate School (OCS) is considered qualifying active service for the purpose of educational assistance under Chapter 33, Title 38, United States Code (Post-9/11 GI Bill). The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disability (depression, anxiety, PTSD), and hypertension have been denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is not etiologically related to service, and the Board finds that there is no evidence of a relationship between his current knee disorder and his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination reports and additional development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his right knee DJD or instability, and determined that he was not unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee, shoulder, and hip disabilities are not related to service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids, as well as his reopenings of claims for acquired psychiatric disabilities, forehead lacerations, and right knee disabilities have been considered. The Board finds new and material evidence has been received to support these reopened claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee and right knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating in either case.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected back disability, which limits him from performing physical or sedentary work.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple knee and back conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of all claims.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's left knee disability rating from 30% to 10% was not proper and restored the 30% rating for this period. The right knee and left knee disabilities are each rated at 30%. The lumbar spine disability is rated at 40%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities are not related to his period of service. The low back disability is also not linked to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for diabetes, hypertension, sarcoidosis, a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis. The Board found no evidence that these conditions began during or were caused by his active service.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for the claimed conditions and denied all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for epididymitis and prostatitis, right knee DJD, left knee DJD, and status post right fifth metatarsal fracture have been granted. The Veteran is now rated at 20 percent for epididymitis and prostatitis from May 18, 2011, with a separate rating of 10 percent each for right knee instability and left knee instability effective December 5, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination opinions and further development is required.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have not met the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's right knee osteochondroma is granted service connection, with the current arthritis considered to be unrelated to his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining updated VA medical records and vocational rehabilitation records.