Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's death was found to be due to his service-connected neuroendocrine carcinoma, and the orthopedic problems were also found to be related to his military service. The skin disorder claim is pending as it requires a VA examination.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic lung cancer, which is service-connected. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.,The Appellant is not entitled to an effective date prior to June 24, 2015, for the award of special monthly compensation based on her need for aid and attendance.

The RO reduced the Veteran's right knee chondritis of the patella rating from 20 percent to 10 percent effective April 1, 2008. The reduction was proper as there was no material improvement in the condition that had been maintained under ordinary conditions of life.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The ratings for left and right knee disabilities have been increased to 10 percent each.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, and back disorder on a new and material basis. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypersensitivity to fire ant bites was not granted.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to September 9, 2016, and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The left knee patellofemoral syndrome was not granted an initial rating higher than 10 percent.,A 20 percent rating for the lumbar spine degenerative joint disease from September 9, 2016, is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability did not originate in service and is unrelated to an in-service injury. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for his claimed condition.

The Veteran's right knee conditions have been granted increased ratings, with the highest rating of 60 percent for his right knee status post total replacement.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The acquired psychiatric disability claim is pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted. The effective dates are April 14, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to March 31, 2009. The VA Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of the Compensation and Pension Service determined that he was not entitled to a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed residuals of traumatic brain injury and right knee disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is productive of painful flexion and extension, moderate recurrent lateral instability, and frequent episodes of 'locking' pain and effusion into the joint. The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for limitation of extension from April 27, 2011 to May 5, 2017 under Diagnostic Code 5261-5003, but denied higher ratings based on flexion or instability.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease and reopened the claim of service connection for a left knee disorder as secondary to a right knee disorder. The Veteran's current right knee condition is found to be related to his in-service injury.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disability due to new and material evidence. However, further development is needed as the current VA examination opinions are incomplete and not adequate for adjudication purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing statements of the case and VA Form 9 addressing the issues on appeal from the October 2009 and March 2010 rating decisions, as well as any other outstanding VA adjudicatory, developmental or evidentiary records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic muscular strain low back, depressive disorder, degenerative disease of the right ankle, Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the left knee, tinnitus, arthritis of the right knee, and right ear hearing loss, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports, and he needs a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are service-connected as they are found to be directly related to his military service.