Knee Board decisions

The Board has found that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the claims on appeal, including a new VA examination for the Veteran's left ankle disability and an opinion regarding whether his bilateral knee disability is related to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, including testing for pain on both active and passive motion.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review it.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the left knee and right knee were rated, with some adjustments made for instability. The Veteran received a 100% rating for his status post total left knee replacement from July 12, 2013 to September 1, 2014, followed by a 30% rating thereafter. For the period prior to July 12, 2013, he received separate ratings for instability of the left knee and arthritis of the right knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a spine examination. The issues of increased rating for right knee disability and service connection for lumbar spine disorder are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected medial meniscus tear of the right knee resulted in a hinged brace, which wore through his clothing. The Board granted an annual clothing allowance for 2013 based on this issue.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been evaluated at a 10 percent rating since April 7, 2015. The evidence does not support an increase in the disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's right toe condition is not related to service, as it was diagnosed as tinea pedis and there is no evidence of a cold injury or chronic fungal infection during service. The left hip and left knee conditions are also not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations of his left knee, as the previous examination reports are inadequate. The claims will be re-adjudicated based on the updated evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities and obtain recent medical records from Dr. Raymond Shea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment, and the claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees is related to service, specifically his already service-connected low back strain with degenerative disc disease and bilateral sacroiliac degenerative changes; degenerative disc disease, cervical spine; and sacroiliac joint dysfunction, with degenerative changes.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome, specifically whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability or right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability warrants a rating of 20 percent, but not higher, for arthritis with painful motion. The criteria for any higher ratings have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disorder is not related to service or a service-connected right knee disorder, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is found to be related to his service-connected right ankle disability, granting the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees, as well as bilateral shin splints, have been granted compensable disability ratings (10%) effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant a higher rating or TDIU based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have a current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee lateral patellar tilt was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability or lumbar spine disability.