Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability and consideration of whether he is entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran's claimed conditions of bilateral pes planus, knee disability (chondromalacia patella), back disability, and hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated during his active military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 30 percent, effective November 26, 2013. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to military service or herbicide exposure. Service connection for ischemic heart disease was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disorder is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and a proper examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess her knee disabilities and need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues being inextricably intertwined with increased rating claims and a TDIU claim. The Veteran is required to complete VA Form 21-8940 for his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's current right knee disorder results from injury incurred during a period of ACDUTRA in July 1966, and service connection is granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a rating of 20 percent effective February 3, 2007, and her left knee disability was granted a rating of 20 percent effective January 1, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to service and cannot be considered secondary to a service-connected right knee disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot, knee, hip and shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence supporting a direct relationship with her service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support service connection for degenerative arthritis of the knees or neck, as these conditions were not shown to be related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders are not related to his active duty service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis was manifested by no greater than complaints of stiffness and occasional swelling; objective findings of pain; effusion; dislocated cartilage; flexion to 95 degrees and extension to 95 degrees, not additionally limited following repetitive use. The criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee arthritis were not met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed knee, neck, and back disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for further development, including consideration of new evidence and a VA examination. The appeal will be returned to the Board after this additional review.

The Veteran's left knee conditions have been rated based on their direct service connection, with a current rating of 10 percent for limitation of flexion associated with DJD and limitations in extension. The issues related to instability are addressed under the appropriate diagnostic code.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and degenerative arthritis of the left knee did not render him unemployable prior to September 1, 2015. The Board denied his claim for a TDIU during this period.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral knee, ankle, or foot disabilities and thus did not meet the first element of service connection.,Therefore, the claims for service connection for bilateral knee, ankle, and foot disorders were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent for chronic synovitis with degenerative joint disease and limited extension prior to April 24, 2013, or a rating in excess of 60 percent for right total knee replacement from August 9, 2016.

The Veteran's right knee disability was reduced from a 30 percent rating to a 10 percent rating, effective September 1, 2010. The claim for restoration of the 30 percent rating is granted.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for cervical spine disability.