Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back and right leg disabilities are not related to service, as there is no evidence of chronic symptoms during or within one year after service. The diagnoses provided by VA examiners were inconsistent with the preexisting condition determinations made at service entrance.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records from the Veteran's incarceration period and any relevant prison facilities. The claim will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including right shoulder, left shoulder, left elbow, lumbosacral spine, left knee, and right knee conditions, are not related to his military service. The acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) is also not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, but his other service-connected conditions do not significantly impact his employability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and her bilateral foot disability is rated at 30 percent prior to March 17, 2016, and at 50 percent thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.,The Veteran's left knee disability has been limited to flexion of up to 90 degrees with no additional limitation due to pain or repetitive use. Her bilateral foot disability prior to March 17, 2016, was primarily manifested by mild arch displacement and heel pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete examinations, lack of consideration of extraschedular considerations, and other procedural issues. The case is now pending further development.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is denied as he does not have the diagnosed disability. The Board finds that his PTSD symptoms, which are already service-connected, cause his chronic body aches and fatigue.

The Board has remanded this case due to inadequate development and the need for a new medical opinion regarding service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee.

The Veteran's claim for higher levels of SMC based on service-connected disabilities was denied as his conditions do not meet the legal criteria for such benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information regarding the severity of his service-connected left and right knee disabilities, including range of motion testing. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to outstanding VA and private treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease (DJD), was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current right knee disorder began during or was otherwise caused by his military service, and therefore grants service connection for a right knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and left knee disability have been reopened. The claim for increased rating of right tibia fracture remains unresolved.,There is no current evidence of a left knee disability, but the Veteran has reported pain in his left knee. Service connection cannot be granted as there is no diagnosed condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and examinations for his service-connected foot and knee disabilities, as well as hypertension. The goal is to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent, and his left knee disability is rated at 10 percent. The Board finds no basis to grant higher ratings for either condition based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran asserts that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically PTSD, right knee disability, low back disability, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the left arm. The Board finds it necessary to remand the claim for a 'combined effects' medical opinion in order to sufficiently address the issue on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, and for increased ratings for his right shoulder disability and right knee degenerative arthritis were denied. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's rheumatic heart disease has been rated at 60 percent since November 21, 2000. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of symptoms consistent with chronic congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an EF below 30%. However, beginning on March 22, 2017, the Veteran's service-connected rheumatic heart disability prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.