Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination and missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to clarify the nature of his current right knee disability and determine if it had its onset in or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's right knee injury, patella fracture, post-operative is not service-connected.,There is no evidence of a stomach condition related to military service. The Veteran's current gastritis and GERD are less likely caused by his prescribed medications for service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration of evidence related to the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent, effective October 1, 2011. His left knee instability is rated at 20 percent from April 13, 2016.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen his previously denied claim. The Board also found that the current right knee disability is not secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, low back disability, sinusitis, and gastrointestinal disorder as secondary to her service-connected bilateral Achilles tendonitis and calf strain.,There is no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 10 percent for right knee limitation of flexion and a separate 10 percent rating for right knee limitation of extension. The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is not rated separately for lateral instability.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Board granted a separate rating for painful motion of the left knee and denied increased ratings for both his left knee and lumbar spine disorders.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a bilateral knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee and right foot disorders did not have onset during active service, were not caused by active service, and arthritis of both knees did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination and medical opinion to consider the Veteran's right knee disability, including the undated letter from Ray Chiropractic Clinic. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee residuals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, but the effective dates are not specified. The Veteran remains entitled to a separate rating for his painful and unstable amputation scar of the right hand index finger prior to October 23, 2008, and to an initial compensable rating thereafter.

The Veteran's gout of the bilateral knees and ankles is found to be incurred during active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's depression is rated as 50 percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate throughout the appeal period. The claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability from April 11, 1988, and the TDIU prior to July 14, 2010, are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the issue of depression.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral foot condition and left knee condition, but denied both claims as service connection is not warranted.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and conduct further examinations, as well as locate any missing records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disability, or low back disability that is related to service. The acquired psychiatric disorder was resolved in 2000 and no longer meets the criteria for service connection. The bilateral knee and low back disabilities are found to be less likely proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, and if so, whether the reopened claim should be granted.

The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees with Osgood-Schlatter's disease. The case has been remanded to obtain updated treatment records from Martin Army Community Hospital.