Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting TDIU. The right knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are not service connected.

The Board has determined that there is no nexus between the Veteran's current lumbar spine and right knee disabilities and his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and conducting VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for bronchitis. Service connection is granted for malaria, joint pain, skin rash, and shrapnel wounds of the right lip, knee, and hand. The issue of reducing disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding his knee disabilities. A right wrist examination will also be conducted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart condition, prostate cancer, glaucoma, and left knee replacement. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left and right knee degenerative joint disease are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for PTSD, service connection for left leg/knee condition, and service connection for a left foot condition are pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral shin splints, allergic rhinitis (sinus problems), GERD, and left knee disability are all granted. The Board finds that the Veteran had these conditions during his active duty in Iraq.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal on the issues of service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disability, increased rating for depressive disorder NOS, and initial increased rating for pes cavus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability. The issue will be reconsidered after the examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining a new VA examination and opinion regarding his service-connected back disorder, right knee iliotibial band syndrome, left knee iliotibial band syndrome, and bilateral calcaneal bursitis. The issues of entitlement to a 10 percent rating under 38 C.F.R. 3.324 for multiple, noncompensable, service-connected disabilities and entitlement to TDIU are also deferred until the claims can be properly adjudicated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder degenerative arthritis requires aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The claims were previously denied in a July 2013 rating decision, which became final due to lack of appeal within one year.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA vocational rehabilitation folder and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his knee disabilities. The TDIU claim will also be remanded pending adjudication of these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disorders, left knee disorders, right elbow disorders, and left elbow disorders. Tinnitus was also found to have originated during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, low back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to a lack of evidence showing direct exposure to herbicides during active duty service. The conditions were not found to be related to service or to any in-service event including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's service connection claims for arthritis of the hips and knees, claimed as secondary to in-service exposure to herbicides, are granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected left knee disability was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for his right knee disability were denied. The claims for an initial compensable evaluation for a scar, right knee, status post right total knee replacement and service connection for sciatic nerve disorder as secondary to service-connected total right knee replacement due to degenerative joint disease of the right knee with patellar bursitis and tendinosis are also pending.