Knee Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim and granted service connection for a left knee condition, diagnosed as degenerative osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a hearing request not being followed up. The Veteran's claims for service connection for various arthritis conditions in multiple joints are on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange, during his service in Vietnam and thus meets the criteria for presumptive service connection for ischemic heart disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for VA examinations and additional development of records.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for right and left knee or lower extremity disabilities. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed conditions, as well as whether they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to obtain an addendum opinion from the April 2015 VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disorder is not related to his active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing VA examinations to address the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection.

The Veteran is entitled to a disability rating of 60 percent for his left knee disability prior to March 19, 2014.,From March 19, 2014 to March 19, 2015, the Veteran was granted a total disability rating for convalescence following his total knee revision.,After March 19, 2015, the Veteran is not entitled to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing Social Security records and updated VA/privately held treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and right knee arthralgia with degenerative joint disease prevent him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and instability, is rated at 20 percent effective August 1, 2017. The Veteran also has a separate 30 percent evaluation for limitation of extension beginning October 17, 2016.

The Board has granted a separate 20 percent rating for left knee dislocated semilunar cartilage and a TDIU, but denied an increase in the rating for left knee instability. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity that they preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right ankle disability was not incurred in active service and the Board finds that service connection for a right ankle disability is not warranted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disability. The Veteran's current right knee disability is found not to be related to his active military service, as there is no evidence of continuous or recurrent symptoms during service or within one year after separation from service. Service connection for secondary disabilities (back, left ring finger, and right shoulder) was also denied due to lack of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral plantar fasciitis, have resulted in a combined rating of 100 percent as of April 20, 2015. Effective from July 15, 2016, the Veteran is entitled to TDIU due to his depressive disorder.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant notifying the Board of their desire to withdraw the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability and its impact on any claimed left foot, ankle, and low back disorders. The AOJ will also consider all functional limitations resulting from his service-connected left knee throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and lumbar spine disorders are found to be related to his active service.,Right elbow epicondylitis is also found to be related to a parachute accident during INACDUTRA.