Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative joint disease was denied as there were no communications indicating intent to reopen the claim between the last final rating decision and the new claim.

The claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, and headaches have been reopened.,The claims for service connection for myopia/astigmatism, bilateral knee disability, back disability, onychomycosis/dermatophytosis, neck disability, and scars on both sides of the nose were not reopened.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's left ankle arthritis is caused by his service-connected right knee DJD. As a result, the claim for secondary service connection for left ankle arthritis is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee arthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are not service-connected as they are not related to his active military service. The claims for secondary service connection have also been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee and lumbar spine disabilities cause his clothing to wear more quickly, warranting an annual clothing allowance.

From January 24, 2006 to September 1, 2008, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were sufficiently incapacitating as to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic right wrist sprain and right wrist osteoarthritis was granted. The claims for ankle, knee, and left shoulder disabilities were not addressed due to lack of diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate opinions and missing records. The issues include service connection for various conditions, including left foot disability, right knee disability, epistaxis, facial injury, sleep apnea, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of a gunshot wound, compound comminuted fracture of the right femur, with muscle injury, knee disability, and one inch shortening of the right leg, and status post right total knee replacement, prior to November 12, 2012, was denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 80 percent for right thigh above the knee amputation due to chronic recurrent osteomyelitis was also denied. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU for the period from October 1, 2007, to October 23, 2012, was denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to January 2, 2014 and increased to 20 percent thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for ACL reconstruction of the right knee and mechanical back syndrome, finding that there was no evidence of moderate or severe recurrent subluxation or lateral instability for the ACL reconstruction claim. The mechanical back syndrome claim did not involve service connection issues.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability, finding that it is proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The claim of increased rating for left knee disability and the claim of diabetes mellitus are also addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's conditions, including diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee disability are service connected. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's service connection claims for a low back disability, bilateral knee disability, peripheral nervous system disorder, immune system disorders, metabolic digestive disorder (claimed as GERD), diabetes mellitus type II, skin cancer, and birth defects and stillborn baby. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back and left knee disabilities are etiologically related to his service, including injuries sustained during military vehicle accidents in 1967 and 1968. The vision disability is currently under consideration.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, right leg, cervical spine, and psychiatric disorders. The claim for service connection for a lung disorder is also granted. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination of his right knee disability, which was last evaluated in August 2016. The rating and effective date will be determined based on the results of this examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the extent of his right knee disability post total knee replacement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and low back disorders were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor are they proximately due to, aggravated by, or the result of a service-connected disability. The claims for service connection have been denied.