Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's knee and ankle conditions have been rated based on their current functional limitations, with the right knee receiving a 10 percent rating for instability and the right ankle receiving a 10 percent rating. The ratings are considered appropriate given the Veteran's symptoms and physical findings.

The Veteran's low back disorder and joint pain have been granted service connection.,Service connection has been established for left shoulder, lumbar spine, left hip, right thigh, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his service-connected left knee total replacement with degenerative joint disease was granted, and he is now receiving the maximum available rating of 60 percent. The appeal regarding his fracture of the left tibia prior to June 8, 2010, remains pending.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent since July 1, 2016. The left knee disability remains rated as 10 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including the one-year temporary total rating following his arthroplasty and a separate 20% rating for instability after November 23, 2016, is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension, migraine headaches, bilateral eye disability, and left knee disability are not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and experience prior to July 31, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left thumb partial amputation and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee were denied. The current ratings are considered appropriate based on the evidence provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorder, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, status post total knee replacement, in both knees, is related to his period of active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's periods of active duty for training and to obtain a VA examination regarding his left knee condition and lung condition. The claims are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not resulted in permanent and total disability that would qualify him for specially adapted housing or home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated as 50 percent disabling since September 1, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether this rating has been warranted.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, is rated at 30 percent since August 18, 2016. The Veteran's mild peripheral neuropathy of the medial plantar nerve in both lower extremities and migraine headaches are all rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's overpayment debt for additional VA compensation benefits for her dependent spouse was granted, except for the period from April 2004 to October 2004 when she was not married.

The Veteran's right hand disability is not service-connected as it was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.,The Veteran's right knee disability is also not service-connected, and the Board finds that any current disability is not proximately due to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of a bilateral knee disability, and the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his substantive appeal was not filed within the required time limits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability that is related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection. For the issue of cyst/hydrocele with epididymitis, the Board found no evidence of complete atrophy of both testicles, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and examination to determine if the Veteran's shoulder and knee disabilities are related to his service-connected low back disability.