Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right arm, knee, and hip disorders are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran has a current right knee disability and whether any such disability is related to service or secondary to her service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 18, 2010.

The Veteran's low back disability is not manifested by at least unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes that required bed rest prescribed by a physician and treatment by a physician having a total duration of at least six weeks during the past twelve months. The claim for increased rating for right knee disorder is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to untimely filing of the substantive appeal.

The Board denied reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and a left knee disability due to lack of new and material evidence. The heart disability claim was not reopened as there was no new and material evidence received. The anemia claim was also not reopened.

The Veteran's right knee DJD status-post arthroscopy with surgical scars is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee and neck disabilities are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the first post-service year. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were caused by exposure to cold temperatures during service.

The Board denied both claims of service connection for a left and right knee disability, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the left knee claim and that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to his active military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since April 28, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after any additional notification or development is completed.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left knee disability and for a TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, as he had one service-connected disability rated at 60 percent or higher (left shoulder disability) and two or more disabilities with one rated at least 40 percent (left knee disability and tinnitus).

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee with an effective date of November 24, 1969. The Veteran's initial disability rating remains at 10%.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a DRO hearing and obtaining VA treatment records. Additionally, the Veteran needs to be scheduled for VA examinations of his right knee, wrist, back, and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee and left hip disabilities, as well as his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's left knee DJD was rated at 10 percent prior to April 16, 2014, and at 20 percent thereafter. The current rating of 20 percent is effective as of April 16, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The remaining issues are still under consideration.,The Veteran has multiple conditions that he is seeking service connection for, including headaches and calcaneal spurs and pes planus.

The Veteran's left knee disability is service-connected and he is currently rated at 30 percent for his right knee disability. The effective dates for the rating changes are specified.