Knee Board decisions

The Veteran is seeking service connection for his bilateral knee disabilities, which he claims are related to parachute jumps in service. The case has been remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus and right knee injury with traumatic arthritis are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for his claims seeking service connection for a left ankle disability and increased ratings for his lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities and has been granted special adapted housing.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability and granted service connection.,Service connection is also granted for heart disease, as it is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess the current severity of his right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, right thumb, and abdominal strain disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and personnel records, as well as an examination to determine if his current left knee disorder may be related to his in-service accident.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left inguinal hernia disorder is not causally or etiologically related to his active military service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder and right knee disorder, as well as an initial increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the period prior to February 3, 2015, and in excess of 20 percent for the period from February 3, 2015, forward for a left clavicle disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision below.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and right ankle disabilities, as well as initial ratings for IBS and testicular pain. The claims for earlier effective dates were also denied.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have improved, and he is not entitled to increased ratings or service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and possible SSA disability benefits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee disability and a bilateral foot disability, including as due to service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee conditions have been rated based on their current manifestations, with the highest possible schedular ratings for each condition. The combined rating is currently at 60 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities do not warrant a higher evaluation as the evidence does not demonstrate severe limitation of motion or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current lumbar spine disorder, prostate disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, or heart disorder for which service connection can be granted.,As such, the claims of entitlement to service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee osteoarthritis have not been found to warrant a higher initial rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right knee disorder claim is pending. The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability, and he now meets the criteria for TDIU prior to September 18, 2015. His right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for a higher rating for service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and recurrent subluxation of the right knee. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee and back disabilities, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.