Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's spouse requires regular aid and attendance due to physical incapacity resulting from multiple service-connected disabilities, which meets the criteria for increased compensation based on the need of the Veteran's spouse for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the underlying claims remain denied.,Effective November 4, 2013, the Veteran is now entitled to compensation for his claimed conditions.

The Veteran was found unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, which included PTSD, CAD, low back disorder, and bilateral knee disorders. The TDIU rating is granted effective from May 12, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and joint pain, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are at least as likely as not related to his in-service injuries. The claims for higher ratings for back and right ankle disabilities have been remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee and ankle disabilities are not related to his military service, specifically noting a lack of documented treatment despite reported symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and DJD of the left knee prior to July 11, 2013 were not service-connected or found to warrant a higher rating.

The Board found no evidence to support a nexus between the Veteran's right knee disability and his active duty service, including any in-service injury. The claim was denied as there is insufficient medical evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's low back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disorders were not incurred or aggravated by service. His status-post spontaneous pneumothorax is rated at 10%.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, but denied these claims on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine his entitlement to increased ratings and service connection for bilateral knee, shoulder, and neck disorders.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left knee disability, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected right knee ligament reconstruction and meniscectomy. He also requests a temporary total evaluation due to convalescence. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and address the issues of service connection and the temporary total evaluation.

The Veteran's surgical scar on his right knee and status post fracture of the right ring finger have been evaluated as noncompensable. The Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted for either condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability that is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected left leg length discrepancy. The Veteran's right knee disability remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee and back disorders are as likely as not caused by his service-connected left ankle disability, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issue of TDIU due to ongoing appeal on initial ratings for service-connected disabilities, including right hip and knee disabilities. The RO is instructed to issue a statement of the case addressing these issues before proceeding with further adjudication.

The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical examinations and for further development of the claims.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a right knee or right shoulder disorder, and thus the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of sufficient severity to produce unemployability without regard to advancing age or non-service connected disabilities.

The VA examiner found no right knee diagnosis and concluded that the Veteran's current right knee condition is not related to her service. The Board therefore denied the claim for service connection.