Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral patellar tendonitis, and for obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board is remanding the claims for further development and an additional VA examination to address whether any new disabilities are related to VA treatment, including alcohol use.

The Board found no evidence to support a direct relationship between the Veteran's in-service right knee injury and his current right knee osteoarthritis, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board hearing at the RO for issues including an increased disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae with acne, service connection for arthritis of the right hand and knees/shoulders, PTSD, and TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities and an examination to determine if he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which includes status post total left knee joint replacement, is rated at 60 percent effective October 1, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is service-connected, but his left knee disability cannot be linked to service. The right knee issue was granted, while the left knee issue remains unresolved.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and finds that it had its onset during his military service. The right knee disability is being remanded as additional development is needed to determine its etiology.

The Board has granted the Appellant's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for regular aid and attendance, as she requires assistance from her daughter to manage daily activities due to her health conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a current right leg or left leg disorder related to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for vision loss and blindness, as well as his claims for PTSD, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 60%, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not sufficiently incapacitate him to prevent substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for mucoepidermoid carcinoma and an increased rating for right knee degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's claim for service connection for right hip degenerative arthritis is remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right TKR has been manifested by chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion. The Board grants a rating of 60 percent for his right knee condition from July 1, 2010 to the present.

The Board has dismissed the claims of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain with degenerative arthritis and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain as there is no pending appeal on these issues.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, as well as updated VA treatment records should be obtained. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his current right lower extremity disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral inguinal herniography residuals did not meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating prior to March 19, 2009. From March 19, 2009, there is no legal entitlement to a compensable rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral inguinal herniography residuals have not required at least one month of convalescence or resulted in severe postoperative residuals as per VA regulations.