Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including feminine issues to include tubal ligation, fungal infection of the skin, status post lumbosacral spine strain, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder, are not related to service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar disability is rated at 40 percent since February 6, 2012. He also has separate ratings of 10 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination regarding the severity of his service-connected left knee conditions, as there are recent treatment records indicating possible worsening.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically for left knee condition, fatigue with weakness, and joint and muscle pain. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right and left knee, finding that the Veteran's current knee disorders are due to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted, and he meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle, big toe, shoulder, cervical spine, left knee, and skin disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing their onset or causation in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities do not warrant higher ratings based on their current manifestations. The currently assigned 10% rating for each disability is maintained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. Therefore, service connection for aggravation of a back disability due to service connected bilateral knee disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, prior to December 15, 2015, was evaluated as noncompensable due to degenerative joint disease. The evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or additional functional loss.

The Veteran's right ankle fracture residuals necessitated convalescence to November 31, 2007. The temporary total rating was extended to this date.

The Board found that there is no evidence of instability or recurrent subluxation in the Veteran's right knee, and thus denied a separate compensable disability rating for degenerative joint disease based on instability. The Board also determined that an extraschedular rating was warranted for functional impairment other than limitation of range of motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PUD, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The evidence did not show a disability picture more nearly approximating moderate or higher for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA medical records, scheduling a VA examination regarding his bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disorder, lumbar strain, and PTSD, and updating the claims file with all relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to withdrawal of appeals by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disability and lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service duties. The decision is based on credible lay evidence of symptoms during service and a causal relationship between those symptoms and current disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for additional development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient examination reports. The claim will be reconsidered after all necessary information is obtained.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a diagnosable right knee disability and therefore, service connection for an unspecified right knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a right knee disorder was denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is related to service. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) was granted based on presumed exposure under the PACT Act.,The Veteran has been awarded service connection for PTSD, but his claim for a right knee disorder remains denied.