Knee Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, type II; peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities; coronary artery disease (CAD); vitiligo; thoracolumbar spine condition; right knee condition; left knee condition; right hip condition; and bilateral hand condition. The Board found no evidence to support a direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent disability rating. The Veteran is also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for eye disability, sleep apnea, and bilateral knee disability. The evidence does not establish a direct link between these conditions and service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability caused or aggravated her current left knee disability, and grants service connection for a left knee disability as due to a service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 28, 2010 for the grant of service connection for a right knee disability was granted.,However, his claim for an effective date earlier than January 11, 2010 for the grant of service connection for a left knee disability was denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for left and middle chest pain during a hearing before the Board. The remaining issues are related to evaluations for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), right knee sprain, and left knee sprain.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the Veteran's claims for service connection can be decided.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if current diagnoses can be provided for the claimed low back, right and left knee, and right and left ankle conditions, and if so, whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The case will also be reviewed to determine if a TDIU should be granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left leg above-the-knee amputation was not caused by a delay in VA treatment, and therefore compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hip injury, bilateral knee injury, bilateral shoulder injury, groin injury, and PTSD were denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or chronic disability that may be related to service.

The Board denied increased ratings for DJD and instability of the Veteran's right knee, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to clarify whether the Veteran's left knee disorder is related to his military service, including documented in-service injury and iliotibial band syndrome. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is granted as secondary to his service-connected burn scars. The issue of a current left knee condition remains pending and requires further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment effective October 23, 2008. The Board found that the Veteran engaged in marginal employment as of this date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for a flare-up examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus with hallux valgus, bilateral foot condition, and bilateral knee condition as there was no evidence of in-service aggravation or direct service connection.

The Veteran's left knee internal derangement disability has been manifested by limited flexion to 40 degrees, with pain on motion. The Board finds that this does not warrant a rating in excess of the current 10 percent.

The Veteran's diabetes and left knee disabilities are currently rated based on their current symptoms, with no evidence of requiring regulation of activities for medical management. The Veteran's left knee disability is not shown to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, consistent with his education and occupational experience.