Knee Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, but finds that new and material evidence does not establish service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not cause unemployability, and the Board finds that TDIU is not warranted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral below-the-knee amputations, but the claims are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service-connected diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left leg disorder, right knee disorder, and psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn by his representative.

The Board has granted a one-year, 100 percent disability rating for prosthesis replacement of the right knee joint effective November 15, 2011.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and opinions regarding his spinal stenosis, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and chronic sinusitis with headaches.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's depressive disorder has not resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, as required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine if he received proper notice of a VA examination and for other indicated development.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in at least relative equipoise as to whether right knee strain and sleep apnea had their onset during active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran is granted annual clothing allowances for the 2013, 2015, and 2016 calendar years due to use of left knee braces and back braces related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased evaluation for left knee strain with arthralgia before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee instability and arthritis prior to March 21, 2011 were denied. The RO assigned effective dates that may have been incorrect.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee instability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has this condition. The heart disorder claim was remanded due to insufficient rationale provided by the VA examiner regarding its relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is manifested by pain and limitation of motion with flexion greater than 30 degrees. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peroneal nerve damage, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS, and right hip trochanter bursitis, among others, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.