Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of low back, right leg radiculopathy, upper back disorder, bilateral shoulder disorders, bilateral hip disorder, left knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and bilateral foot disorder are at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury. As such, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not have a severe muscle pain disability including pain involving the bilateral elbows, forearms, legs, knees and feet related to active duty service, to include due to exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for the service-connected right wrist strain and right knee chondromalacia patella, with medial meniscus tear.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, increased ratings for his leg disabilities, and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD or that the Veteran's leg disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's compensation benefits were restored to October 1, 2002, the date following her discharge from military service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current PTSD is at least as likely as not the result of an in-service event or injury. The other issues related to knee disabilities and headaches are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and is remanding the issue of service connection for a left knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his left knee disability and service connection for a right knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's right knee condition was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, and the Board denied service connection for a right knee injury. The Veteran's back condition is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board found no evidence of worsening since his last examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic left knee strain with degenerative changes status post total knee replacement was denied in a December 1990 rating decision. The effective date of the grant of service connection is August 3, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA examination and records, as well as SSA disability records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of an in-service event, disease, or injury that could be linked to the claimed conditions. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a right knee disability, left knee disability, shin splints of either leg, cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis of the wrists and hands, or sinus disability due to asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current knee, lung, heart, and neuropathy disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain service records and determine the relationship between his current skin, right knee, and cardiac disabilities with his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting left knee condition was aggravated by his active duty service, and thus service connection is granted for posttraumatic degenerative arthritis of the left knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. His TDIU claim will also be adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case due to unavailability of service treatment records and other necessary development is required before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for right knee condition and back condition.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings was denied. The right knee disability is rated at 20 percent from February 13, 2012 to November 30, 2014; 30 percent from December 1, 2014 to September 2, 2015; and 60 percent thereafter. The left middle finger disability is rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of right ear hearing loss, left knee disability, or right knee disability for VA purposes. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the knees, and bilateral hearing loss, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. The Board grants a TDIU.