Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spondylosis, left knee pain, and left ankle pain are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and lumbar spine disabilities have been denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his military service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity below the knee amputations are due to his service-connected ischemic heart disease, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The case is also remanded for further action on benefits related to specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a right knee meniscus tear or low back disability, as there is no medical evidence of record supporting these claims. The claim for right knee meniscus tear secondary to ACL repair residuals was denied due to lack of current diagnosis and no causal relationship established. For the low back disability, the Board found that while the Veteran has complained of pain since service, there is no objective evidence of an underlying condition or injury related to his in-service accident.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal as he did not file a timely substantive appeal within the required time frame.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee arthritis is not related to his in-service left knee injury, and therefore service connection for a left knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left foot and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, scheduling new examinations, and addressing functional limitations during flare-ups.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the Veteran's claims of service connection and increased rating for his right knee arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not service-connected as it did not manifest during active duty and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The examiner opined that the current right knee condition is less likely caused by or aggravated by his service-connected hip disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left shoulder disorder, as well as his claims for increased evaluations of multiple shell fragment wound scars on various parts of the body, were granted. The effective date is February 24, 2000.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for additional vocational rehabilitation services after a declaration of rehabilitation due to the weight of evidence against his claims that he cannot perform a job position in social work or that the occupation is unsuitable based on his specific employment handicap and capabilities.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis with limited extension and flexion has been granted a rating of 20 percent, effective March 7, 2011. A separate 10 percent rating for instability is also granted.

The Veteran's left knee posttraumatic osteoarthritis has been rated at 20 percent for moderate instability, as per Diagnostic Code 5257. The rating is based on the Veteran's reports of instability and use of assistive devices.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of an opinion addressing secondary aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and ensuring compliance with prior remand directives. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral knee conditions and left leg neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since April 1, 2009. Effective April 12, 2017, the Veteran's total disability rating was increased to 80 percent.

The Veteran is granted a higher rating of 30 percent for left knee instability and a separate 20 percent rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage since May 25, 2007. The RO must provide the Veteran with a VA Form 21-8940 application for TDIU.