Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, increased rating for left knee disability, and earlier effective date for right knee disability are all pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. The decision also denied entitlement to SMC at the housebound rate as there was no single disability rated as 100% disabling or a TDIU rating based on multiple disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee instability is currently rated at 10 percent, and his arthritis of the left knee is separately rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability, including limitation of motion and instability. The Veteran is also rated separately under Diagnostic Code 5003 for arthritis in his left knee.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA records from 1969-1970 and pre-service medical records related to the Veteran's left knee. The appeal will be reconsidered based on all evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further development. The issues of increased ratings for anxiety disorder and entitlement to TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's right knee bursitis is rated at 10 percent prior to September 2010 and at 60 percent from that date. The service connection for a right hip condition secondary to the service-connected right knee disability has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, characterized by degenerative arthritis with extensive cartilage loss, chronic ACL tear, and extensive medial meniscus tear, warrants a 20 percent rating for the entire period covered by this claim.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, including whether it is related to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 60 percent from July 1, 2011 and remains at that level. The Board also granted an automobile allowance for the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and his period of active service or to any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's skin rash was rated noncompensable prior to December 17, 2015 and 10 percent thereafter. The Board denied service connection for right knee and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his occupational functioning. The issue of entitlement to an extraschedular rating will also be remanded.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease, in excess of 10 percent for left knee fracture with degenerative spurs and crepitus, and in excess of 10 percent for right foot fracture of the fifth toe with degenerative joint space narrowing and hallux valgus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment for the period from July 24, 2007, to February 14, 2008.

The Veteran's right knee injury and right rotator cuff injury are not service-connected as they did not originate in active service, were not caused by active service, were not aggravated by active service, and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation.,The Veteran was not exposed to herbicide agent during his military service. His ischemic heart disease is not service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability is not causally related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage criteria for TDIU and prevent him from securing or following a gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee degenerative joint disease had its onset during his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in July 1983, and thus is service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.