Knee Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for tinnitus. The July 2008 rating decision denying service connection for a bilateral foot disorder became final, and no new and material evidence was received to reopen this claim. For the entire rating period on appeal from March 29, 2010, the criteria for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the right knee disability have not been met or more nearly approximated. The Veteran is granted a separate 20 percent disability rating for moderate instability of the right knee. For the entire rating period on appeal from March 29, 2010, the criteria for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the left knee disability have not been met or more nearly approximated. The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for mild instability of the left knee.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left knee conditions have been denied. The Veteran was previously assigned a temporary total disability rating due to convalescence, but now has a permanent 20 percent rating for the meniscal tear and a separate compensable rating for painful limitation of flexion.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right knee disorder, including osteochondritis dissecans. The evidence now shows that the Veteran's pre-existing condition existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service or any incident in service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for an epididymal cyst has been granted. Service connection is also established for hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain a new VA examination and medical opinion regarding her bilateral knee and foot disabilities, including bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee arthritis is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The lower back disability issue remains pending as a remand was ordered.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for hypertensive vascular disease with hypertension and osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees, ankles, and wrists. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and inadequate examination, and will be reconsidered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA clinical documentation and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, lower back condition, bilateral knee condition, and skin disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an updated examination of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities for pension purposes prior to October 25, 2017 included PTSD with major depression, knee arthralgia, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, hypertension, inguinal hernia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Veteran was not found to meet the schedular criteria for a permanent and total disability rating prior to October 25, 2017. As such, he is not entitled to nonservice-connected pension benefits prior to that date.

The Veteran's claims for an infection of the jaw bone, malaria, and a left knee disorder were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions or their relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, skin cancer, lung disability, vestibular disorder, groin disorder, and allergies. The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability, neurological disorder of the bilateral upper extremities, and low back disability is denied as there is no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU rating due to his service-connected back, hip, and knee disabilities that limit his ability to work.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches are secondary to her service-connected PTSD and have granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for right and left knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on his right shoulder, low back, and right knee disabilities has been withdrawn. The Board dismissed the claim as it pertains to the right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 or accrued benefits. The appellant is also ineligible for death pension as of September 1, 2014.