Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting VA examinations.

The Veteran requested the withdrawal of his appeal regarding all issues on appeal, including claims to reopen service connection for knee and back disabilities, diabetes mellitus type II, and a skin disability of the face. As such, these claims are dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his left knee disability, as the previous one was not compliant with Correia v. McDonald.

The Veteran's asthma was found to be incurred during active duty service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn by his attorney in a June 2017 letter.

The Board has determined that it is factually ascertainable that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from retaining substantially gainful employment for a period of one year prior to his February 12, 2008 claim. Therefore, an effective date of August 20, 2007, but no earlier, has been granted for the award of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of new evidence. The appellant's claims for service connection on appeal are pending.

The Veteran's malaria claim is denied. The Board finds reasonable doubt in the bilateral tinea pedis (jungle rot) claim and grants service connection. Service connection for residuals of basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer, including as the result of exposure to Agent Orange, is granted. Service connection for actinic keratosis and sebaceous cysts, including as the result of exposure to Agent Orange, is denied. The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease, status post arthroscopic surgery, and lumbar spine condition are found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current osteoarthritis and chondrocalcinosis of the right knee, as well as his osteoarthritis of the left knee, are not related to service. The evidence does not show chronicity in service or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's right great toe disability was rated at 10 percent prior to August 22, 2014, and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The other issues were not addressed in this decision.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of EDS with multiple joint involvement, including left ankle instability, right and left hip bursitis, right and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome, low back strain, and left ankle tender scar, became part of her pending February 17, 2010 increased rating claim. The effective date for the award is set at June 10, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, left elbow, right elbow, and right knee disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee and lumbar spine disabilities. The claims will be readjudicated after obtaining supplemental opinions from the examiner who conducted the May 2010 examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated as 30 percent disabling since November 29, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on additional functional loss or ankylosis.

The Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia of the left knee and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine are currently rated at their maximum levels. The Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence to warrant a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and cervical spine disability were denied.,A separate rating was granted for degenerative cervical spine disease prior to October 18, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to his service or service-connected right knee disorder, and thus denied his claim for secondary service connection.