Knee Board decisions

The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for DJD of the bilateral knees. The most persuasive evidence indicates that his knee disorder began around age 50, which aligns with the onset of arthritis in the general population.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he is currently employed and able to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to his active service, but there is insufficient evidence to establish a connection between his left knee disorder and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, bilateral hands, and bilateral knees disabilities as there is no competent evidence of current disability or a nexus to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the Veteran's periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training, as well as an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran's service connection claim is based on aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's nail fungus is likely the result of his service-connected dermatomycosis and atopic dermatitis. The Board did not find evidence for a current bilateral knee, ankle, eye, or swollen joints disability to establish service connection.

The Veteran's chest pain with shortness of breath is found to be related to service, and he has been granted presumptive service connection for this condition. The bilateral hip strain and right knee strain are not addressed in the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee surgery complications and deep vein thrombosis did not require a temporary total rating beyond February 1, 2010.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis, has been rated at 10 percent since November 2005. The Board found that the current rating is appropriate as the Veteran's range of motion was not limited to less than 10 degrees of extension or flexion.

The Veteran's appeal is currently pending and requires additional development including obtaining medical records, scheduling VA examinations for her left knee and left hip disabilities, and reviewing the claims file.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his cervical spine and left radial shaft disabilities, as well as the etiology of his bilateral hand arthritis, right elbow and wrist pain, right subacromial bursitis, left scapulothoracic bursitis, lumbar strain, right ankle sprain, and left knee arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and addressing the propriety of severing service connection for a left knee condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee Osgood-Schlatter's disease with osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to her military service.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the left and right knees have been rated at 10 percent each, which is the minimum rating available under Diagnostic Codes 5010-5260. The VA has not granted a higher evaluation for these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease (DJD), is found to be proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability. The Board grants the claim for service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the appellant's service in 1967 or 1968 and to obtain any relevant medical records. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left foot disabilities other than calluses, as well as his lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities. These conditions are deemed to have been incurred during service due to their progression over time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip replacement, right knee replacement, right leg disability, and gout of both feet are not related to active service or any incident thereof, including as due to service-connected residuals of frostbite of both feet.

The Veteran's right foot injury has been rated as moderately severe, and the right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent. The Veteran requested to withdraw her appeal for several conditions, including residuals of pelvis and/or hip injuries, poikilothermal or cold intolerance, loss of use of buttocks, neurogenic bowel, sexual dysfunction, and soft tissue trauma.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for back, left knee, right knee, bilateral shoulder, and neck disabilities due to new evidence received since the final denial in September 2011. The appellant's current disabilities are considered to be related to his parachute jumps during active service.,Affording the appellant the benefit of doubt, the Board finds that each of the appellant's claimed disabilities (back, left knee, right knee, bilateral shoulder, and neck) were caused by his parachute jumps during active service.