Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's TENS unit and right knee brace caused wear and tear to his clothing, which resulted in a clothing allowance for the year 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, neck disability, and left knee disability. The claim for increased rating of major depressive disorder from December 16, 2003 to July 16, 2013 was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to missing service treatment records, inadequate examination reports, and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 30 percent before June 18, 2012. A separate rating for loss of extension due to degenerative joint disease is granted. Service connection for a left hip disability remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to care for herself without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted an increased initial rating of 10 percent for the right knee disability for the entire period on appeal, and later remanded to determine if a TDIU was warranted prior to February 4, 2013. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not related to military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, low back disorder, right knee disorder, neck disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right elbow disorder have been reopened. The claim of service connection for a left knee disorder is granted.,Service connection has also been granted for the Veteran's low back disorder.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of left knee disability and granted it. The Veteran's current left knee disability is found to be related to parachute jumps during service, resolving doubt in his favor. For the left wrist disability, the Board finds that the fracture documented in service was likely causally significant, granting service connection.

The Veteran's current left knee, right knee, left hip, and low back disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a tibia and fibula fracture.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records, address stressor verification, and provide VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were addressed. The Board granted a separate 10% rating for painful limited motion of the left knee from February 2008 to May 11, 2010. A 60% rating was granted for residuals of total knee arthroplasty from July 1, 2011 to September 14, 2013 and a temporary total rating for convalescence following the second TKA surgery from November 1, 2013 through October 31, 2014. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a temporary total rating was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule her for a VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected left knee/tibia disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hammertoes was granted with an effective date of April 11, 2010. His PTSD remains at a maximum evaluation of 30 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability and reopened the claims of right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is etiologically related to his period of active service.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation due to hospital treatment in excess of 21 days for his service-connected right knee disability was denied as he did not meet the requirements under VA regulations. The case is being remanded to obtain medical records and provide an opinion regarding convalescence time.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee is related to his active service and has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the right knee is rated at 10 percent, which reflects his limitation of motion. The current rating adequately describes his disability level and symptomatology.