Knee Board decisions

The Board determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee DJD and right knee retropatellar pain syndrome were denied as there was no evidence showing flexion or extension limitations warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, which include right lower extremity varicose veins, stasis dermatitis of the right lower leg and foot, left knee degenerative joint disease, chin scars, and right shoulder degenerative changes with rotator cuff tendonitis. The Veteran's combined evaluation has been 70 percent since May 31, 2011.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left knee condition is more likely than not related to a 1973 injury and surgery in 1975, rather than service. As such, service connection for his left knee disorder cannot be established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of chronic disabilities related to his claimed conditions.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss, epistaxis, anemia/iron deficiency, and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, neurological disorder (claimed as seizures), sleep disorder, and fatigue have been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses or objective indications of chronic disabilities resulting from undiagnosed illnesses related to the Gulf War.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling under the criteria for limitation of motion. The evidence does not support a higher rating based on additional functional impairment or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, including strain, instability, and degenerative joint disease, is related to his period of honorable service from August 1974 to August 21, 1977. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need to obtain outstanding treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee and low back disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, resulting from total knee replacements, are rated at 100 percent effective July 1, 2006 for the right knee and May 1, 2007 for the left knee. This rating is based on the period following implantation of the prostheses.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain an addendum opinion from the September 2013 VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis. The examiner should address whether it is at least as likely as not that the disability is related to active duty service and/or caused by or aggravated by service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's shin splints and knee conditions have been evaluated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence.

The Board found that the appellant does not suffer from a ratable bilateral knee disorder and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including valvular heart disease with mitral stenosis, right knee replacement, degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia of the left knee, and bilateral pes planus, have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Veteran's right elbow disability is rated at 50 percent since September 13, 2012. The right knee and left knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran while his appeal was pending.

The Board has granted the extension of a temporary total rating based on convalescence following left knee surgery from September 1, 2007 to January 31, 2008. The issue remains in appellate status and will be remanded for consideration by the Veterans Service Center Manager.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his conditions did not warrant a rating in excess of the current 10 percent for left knee DJD with past left knee scope and instability.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 60 percent since April 1, 2009. Service connection for a seizure disorder secondary to service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been granted.

The Veteran is entitled to TDIU from May 3, 2013 due to his service-connected cyclothymic disorder. Special monthly compensation was granted effective July 6, 2015.