Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his residuals of tibia and fibula fracture with scar and his total knee replacement, is currently rated at 60 percent effective July 1, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating for these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is found to be related to his service-connected right ankle disability. Service connection for chronic lumbar back strain with mild disc narrowing is granted, but the claim is moot due to a current temporary total evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine condition and assigned a 50% rating for his tension headaches. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is remanded as part of this appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and attempting to obtain federal records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder and left knee disorder are pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service fall have not been considered, and a VA examination is needed to address the possible nexus between the Veteran's in-service duties and his current bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's current left knee disability is etiologically related to his active service, specifically due to aggravation by activities during his period of active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to his right knee arthritis and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's left knee replacement, tear of the meniscus with a large popliteal cyst, and osteoarthritis are related to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, but denied the remaining issues of increased ratings and secondary service connection. The Veteran is still seeking higher ratings for his back, left knee, and bilateral wrist disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability, tinnitus, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The effective date of the grant of service connection for left knee disability is September 4, 1991.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is insufficient evidence of a current disability in the claimed conditions. The VA examiners provided clear and persuasive opinions that the current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability. The Veteran's scars on the chest, shoulder, and back are also found to be related to his military service.

The Board found that the appellant's current right knee disability, including advanced osteoarthritis and a history of partial menisectomy and chondroplasty, was not present during active service or within one year of separation. The Board also determined that it is not causally related to his in-service shrapnel wounds or any other incident therein.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities. The primary reason is that there are no current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to determine the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure or follow gainful employment.

The Board has determined that there is no diagnosed disability of the hips, thighs, or knees at any time during the appeal period. The Veteran's complaints are attributed to a somatoform disorder and not a physical condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and right knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition during the periods on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his right knee condition, including whether it was caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability, specifically bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's combined schedular disability rating was 100 percent, and he is contending that he is unemployable due to a combination of these same service-connected disabilities. The criteria for the assignment of a TDIU are not met.