Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and remanded the hypertension claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the increased disability rating for spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine prior to a decision by the Board.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for his left knee and left hip conditions, finding that there is at least a state of equipoise in the evidence regarding whether these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinion is necessary to address the Veteran's knee disabilities and their relationship to service. The appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability requires the use of a brace and cream, which causes wear and tear on his clothing. The Board finds these factors sufficient to grant an annual clothing allowance for 2013.

The Board found that the Veteran's arthralgias, including complaints of pain in his bilateral knees, cervical spine, and right shoulder, were not manifested during service or for many years thereafter, and are not shown to be related to his service.

The Veteran's back, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been rated at the lowest possible initial disability ratings of 10% since January 23, 2008. The Board has determined that these ratings are appropriate based on the evidence provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee degenerative joint diseases are related to his service, granting his claims for these disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including the supracondylar right femur fracture and subsequent total knee arthroplasty, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability was found to have been manifested by left knee flexion to 90 degrees, left knee extension to 5 degrees, joint 'locking', painful motion, and swelling. The Board determined that the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Veteran's left knee PFS is rated at 10 percent based on slight lateral instability, and no higher. The TDIU claim related to the left knee disability has also been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, back, and left leg disabilities as they are not related to active military service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for his right below the knee amputation as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD). He also seeks an increased rating for his CAD. The case is being remanded due to the need for a clarifying medical opinion and additional development of private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for left knee disability has been withdrawn. The remaining issues of increased ratings for hepatitis C, sinusitis, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine are being remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of the claimed conditions and thus denied service connection for all issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right upper extremity disability, bilateral hearing loss, left upper extremity disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee strain. The Veteran was also denied a compensable rating for his left axillary adenopathy with rhomboid spasm.

The Veteran's right knee disorder and right lower extremity vascular and skin disease were found to be at least as likely caused by VA treatment, but the Veteran was not entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for these conditions due to lack of fault on the part of VA. The Veteran's PTSD was granted a higher rating prior to October 23, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowance for back brace and left knee brace in 2014 and 2015 were denied as the braces are not of a type that tends to wear or tear clothing, and thus do not qualify for a clothing allowance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his right knee disability and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for a VA medical examination regarding whether his service-connected disabilities caused wear and tear on his clothing. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee disability, asthma, and an acquired psychiatric disability are addressed in a separate decision.