Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of his low back, left knee, and right hip disabilities. The examination should determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn all pending claims on appeal due to the dismissal of the case.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have service connection for her claimed lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, or left knee disorders due to lack of evidence showing a current disability related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected mood disorder, right knee strain, and left meniscal tear are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings due to the lack of evidence showing more severe impairment.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including ankylosis and instability, warrants a 30 percent rating effective November 9, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate VA examination reports, specifically failing to address functional loss during flare-ups as required by Mitchell v. Shinseki (2011).

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence being added to the record since the March 2013 supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the knees and ankles has been denied as there is no evidence of a separate disability. The claims for increased ratings for residuals of right tibial stress fracture and left proximal femur stress fracture have also been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee and back disabilities are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot disabilities, including any associated altered gait. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

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

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his knee conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right shoulder and left knee disabilities do not render him so helpless as to require regular aid and attendance of another person, thus his claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and assistance is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent from October 15, 2010 until March 21, 2017. From that date, the rating has been reduced to 30 percent.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his claim for a TDIU. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and address procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities and hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and its residuals, residuals of a gunshot wound to the throat, and right ear hearing loss. The appeal was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred or aggravated by military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's gout was found to be manifested by incapacitating exacerbations occurring three or more times per year, warranting a 40 percent disability rating. The criteria for higher ratings were not met for the other issues.

The Veteran's appeals regarding the appropriate disability ratings for cataracts and left knee arthritis with scar are pending. The claim for SMC based on the need for aid and assistance or being housebound is also pending, but will be deferred until these issues are resolved.