Knee Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and left knee disability, finding new and material evidence. The case is remanded to obtain additional examinations and opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected right knee disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent for instability or limitation of motion.

The Veteran's right total knee arthroplasty was granted an increased disability rating of 60 percent from June 1, 2014 to August 11, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, adjustment disorder, and major depressive disorder. The Veteran's current right knee strain is related to his in-service right knee injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left foot disability and finds that any left toe disorder is clearly attributable to an intercurrent cause (a post-service, work-related injury). The issue of service connection for a left knee disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent for limitation of motion and a separate 10 percent rating for instability. The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back or bilateral knee disability that is related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including multiple body traumas, hypertensive cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, COPD, obstructive sleep apnea, emphysema, chronic pansinusitis, low back disorder, cardio-pulmonary disorder, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and osteoarthritis of the knees, right forearm, and right hand. The appeal was decided on the merits without any presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is proximately due to, or aggravated by, his service-connected major depression. Therefore, the claim for service connection for OSA is granted.

The Veteran is seeking a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, but the VA has not provided an opinion regarding whether he is unemployable due to these conditions. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's current left knee and left shoulder disabilities were not incurred during active service, are not presumed to have been incurred in service, and are not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including below knee amputation of the left lower extremity and loss of use of the right lower extremity, required regular aid and attendance throughout his lifetime. The Board granted SMC based upon this need.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability effective February 13, 2013. The Veteran's right hip and left knee disabilities were not service-connected, but his depressive disorder was increased to 50 percent from January 28, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea, left knee disability, urinary dysfunction disability, right hip sacroiliac joint dysfunction with limitation of adduction, extension, and flexion, as well as left hip sacroiliac joint dysfunction with limitation of abduction, extension, and flexion are not related to his service or due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD with cognitive disorder is rated at the highest available level (50%) and his TBI with memory loss is rated at 10%. The other conditions are rated appropriately based on their severity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are not service-connected as they were not shown in service or within one year of discharge. The weight of evidence is against a finding that these conditions are related to his service-connected residuals from a right hip fracture.

The Board has granted the appellant's requests to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, and gout and arthritis of multiple joints. The July 1979 rating decision denying right knee disability is not found to contain CUE.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were denied, with the right knee disability receiving staged ratings and the left knee disability not receiving a higher rating.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and right knee contusion with degenerative changes are not service-connected, and the rating for his right knee condition is found to be appropriate.