Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is proximately due to his service-connected bilateral pes planus status post triple arthrodesis of the left foot, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The lumbar spine disability claim is denied as there is no evidence it is related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability (COPD and chronic bronchitis) and a left knee disability. The effective date of the grant is not specified as it was determined that the Veteran's claims were pending since September 6, 2006.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service, including her service-connected thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint and disc disease.,Service connection for a right knee disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service. The left knee condition was also denied due to lack of in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and review of his medical records.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claims for higher ratings were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at a maximum of 50% since February 6, 2015.,An earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU prior to August 31, 2010 is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent since October 1, 2014. The Board granted an increased rating for his right knee disability and denied service connection for hypertension.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current left knee disability and therefore, the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded the case to arrange for an orthopedics examination of the Veteran to determine the nature and etiology of all of his current knee, leg, and ankle disabilities. The examiner is asked to furnish an opinion as to whether each disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his left knee disability has been rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable rating criteria and there are no additional issues to be addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his left knee disability prior to January 9, 2014. For the period from March 1, 2015, the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for a mood disorder, lumbar spine degenerative changes, and right knee sprain/spurring. These conditions are presumed to have existed prior to service.,Service connection is also established for these conditions as they are related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and elbow disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) have been denied. The claim of service connection for a prostate condition has not been reopened.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including right knee disability and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, were granted. The specific ratings assigned are provided in the decision summary.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the knees, a lumbar spine condition, a cervical spine condition, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy (arms, shoulders, and fingers), and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Veteran's conditions are related to her time in military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee strain, finding that her current bilateral knee disability is unrelated to her service.

The Veteran's application for an annual clothing allowance was denied as the braces provided for his service-connected disabilities do not tend to wear or tear clothing, and the prescribed medication does not cause irreparable damage to outer garments.

The Board has granted service connection for ulcerative colitis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left knee strain, and right ankle strain. The conditions are considered secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his left knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to October 13, 2015, and from October 13, 2015, the combined rating remained at 60 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability and lumbosacral strain were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.