Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the range of motion of his right knee. The issues include increased evaluations and TDIU prior to January 15, 2014.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and bilateral pes planus disabilities are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show a current disability or any in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected, as they were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee and hip disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 30 percent prior to October 14, 2010. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings on an extraschedular basis, finding that the current schedular ratings adequately described his disability level and symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a right knee disorder, including as secondary to service-connected left knee anterior cruciate ligament tear. Additional development is required, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show flexion or extension limitations sufficient to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to any event or injury during his military service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and right knee disabilities have been granted, with a 10% rating effective September 8, 2008.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and left shoulder disabilities, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability or evidence of its onset during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee and left hip disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability, thus granting service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for tinea pedis with onychomycosis prior to July 30, 2010 and a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar strain, status post L5-S1 discectomy from July 30, 2010 to December 6, 2010. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction claim was not addressed as it is not related to service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not currently have a hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a bilateral knee disability, DM, eye and foot disabilities, kidney disease, peripheral neuropathy, headaches, erectile dysfunction, and depression. The decision found no new evidence to reopen the claim of a bilateral knee disability, that DM was not related to active service, and that none of the other conditions were related to active service or secondary to DM.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability and determine if his right leg disability is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, and left leg peroneal neuropathy are all found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination that complies with 38 C.F.R. § 4.59 and includes all necessary information in view of Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The Board has remanded the case for a hearing to be conducted at the RO before a member of the Board or via videoconference.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further proceedings consistent with the Court's decision. The case will be returned to the Board for readjudication.