Knee Board decisions

The Veteran is granted increased ratings for his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as neuropathic arthropathy of the left knee. The highest rating assigned was 40 percent for the right upper extremity from September 11, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations and consideration of his claims for service connection and increased evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability, but denied the underlying claim as the evidence does not establish that his current condition is related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition, tinnitus, and an initial compensable rating for left knee scar. The evidence did not support finding a nexus between any of these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for osteoarthritis of the right and left knees are granted. The claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's deviated nasal septum, obstructive sleep apnea, left knee injury, low back disability (claimed as secondary to a left knee injury), right shoulder disability (claimed as right shoulder bursitis), and bilateral hearing loss are all service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for his knee condition secondary to the ankle condition was denied. The right ankle disability is rated at 30 percent from October 1, 2014 onwards.,The Veteran's migraines are rated at 50 percent and granted TDIU based on this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and SSA records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The March 2014 VA examiner concluded that the current right shoulder impingement is not related to his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer, polycythemia, residuals of frostbite of upper and lower extremities, degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The reasons were that there was no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or asbestos in service, and the current conditions did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis has been manifested by full extension and at least 130 degrees of flexion. The Board found that the disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, especially residuals of lumbar strain, left and right knee chondromalacia, left and right ankle strains, and left and right foot plantar fasciitis with hallux valgus, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the rating claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability warrants a 20% disability rating from March 30, 2007, based on limitation of extension to 115 degrees.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the service connection claim for a left knee disability. The Veteran's left knee disability is not found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees, hands, and shoulders. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending as there is insufficient evidence to determine whether it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining private and VA treatment records, as well as clarifying medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder and psychiatric disorders (including PTSD, depression, and adjustment disorder) was denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused the current conditions. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of PTSD linked to any corroborated in-service stressor and other diagnosed psychiatric disorders are not shown to have had an onset during service or be related to service.