Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to increased rating for sinusitis and TDIU. The issue of TDIU is now part of the appeal as it relates to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent since May 2009. The VA examiner found no significant effects on the Veteran's usual occupation due to his knee conditions, but noted pain and limited range of motion in both knees.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and scheduling VA examinations to address the nature and likely etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which has been rated as 10 percent disabling since July 27, 2007, is now rated at 20 percent for instability from the date of service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including arthritis and partial meniscectomy of the left medial and lateral meniscus, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The examiner opined that it is less likely as not related to service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, as well as his bilateral knee disabilities. The claims will be reconsidered after this development.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right knee strain, including arthritis. The claim for PTSD is remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding the alleged stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right and left knee disabilities and an increase rating for traumatic strain, lumbar spine.

The Veteran is granted service connection for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure and degenerative arthritis in the left knee. Service connection for bilateral hip disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims to reopen his right knee and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing.

The Board has granted a rating of 10% for the Veteran's right knee disability, effective from November 8, 2016. The Veteran also maintains his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for issuance of a statement of the case regarding the issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis status post meniscal removal, service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine status post L2-L4 laminectomy, service connection right knee mild tricompartmental arthritis, and service connection bilateral hip osteoarthritis. The Veteran has the right to submit additional evidence and argument on these matters.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee and low back disabilities are unrelated to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that can be attributed to his military service, including undiagnosed illnesses or exposure to hazardous chemicals.

The Board is unable to determine whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder. The right knee issue remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a new VA examination to address the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus deformities and callouses is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating under Diagnostic Code 5276. The ratings for right knee tendonitis (10%), left knee tendonitis (10%), and left knee instability (20%) have all been denied. However, due to his unemployability caused by these service-connected disabilities, he has been granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for an extraschedular TDIU determination due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are adequately contemplated by the schedular rating criteria and thus, an extra-schedular disability rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease was denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between any in-service event and the current diagnosis. For his lumbar spine disability, the Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent prior to May 8, 2013, and at 40 percent from September 6, 2014 onwards. The claim for TDIU prior to September 6, 2014 was also denied.