Knee Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection of bilateral knee strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and completing a VA Form 21-8940. The case will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the schedular criteria for TDIU since February 8, 2016. The Board has referred the case to the Under Secretary for Benefits or Director of Compensation and Pension Service for an extra-schedular evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee injury, sleep apnea, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and thyroid disorder were not incurred in or related to his active service.

The case is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability and its functional limitations.

The Veteran's back disability was granted service connection, but his bilateral knee disability and right shoulder impingement with rotator cuff tear were denied. The case is remanded for additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that it is not secondary to his service-connected right knee, right hip, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 20 percent from June 1, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating and denied his claim for an increased rating. He also failed to meet the criteria for TDIU prior to June 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including adjudicating the issue of service connection for a right knee disorder and readjudicating the claim for TDIU. The Veteran's appeal is currently in remand status.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including VA examinations and a medical opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities and any acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied. The Board finds that there is not sufficient evidence to establish the presence of a current left knee disability during the appeal period. However, the Veteran's liver disease is found to be at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, service connection for alcoholic liver disease secondary to service-connected PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability is related to an in-service injury during basic training, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus has been reopened and granted. His right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder have also been granted as secondary to his now service-connected pes planus.,PTSD ratings remain unchanged.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for limitation of flexion of the bilateral knees and back strain. The Veteran's sleep apnea and tinnitus have not been established as related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and consideration of additional evidence. The issue remains about entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for patellar femoral syndrome of the left knee.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful employment prior to September 16, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and will be readjudicated after obtaining these records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations of his right and left knee conditions.