Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease was caused or aggravated by his service-connected psoriasis. The claim for a right shoulder disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis in the right shoulder and the preponderance of the evidence fails to establish a medical nexus between the current condition and military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration of the claims, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing and a DRO hearing. The Veteran's representative requested a travel board hearing on his behalf.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis resulted in a disability rating of 40 percent for limitation of extension, effective from the date of the decision.,A separate 10 percent disability rating was granted for right knee instability since May 16, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is service-connected, but his right knee, left knee, and right arm disabilities are not.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right and left knee disorders, as well as his pulmonary disorder (including COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea, were not incurred or aggravated by service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion, despite complaints of pain and functional loss. The current ratings of 10% for each knee are therefore maintained.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals through his attorney.

The February 1971 rating decision did not award special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the loss of use of both feet, as it was determined that only one foot met the criteria for SMC. The Veteran's appeal is denied.

The Board found that a right knee disability was not incurred or aggravated as a result of active service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, plantar fasciitis, and bilateral knee arthritis are not considered service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as his healed right ankle fracture with residuals of pain and locking, are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left lower fibular fracture residuals with left ankle traumatic arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and inadequate medical opinions. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or contributed to his service-connected disabilities, and thus denied both the cause of death claim and the DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between service-connected bilateral foot disability and other claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete rationale in a previous VA examination and the need to obtain additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee arthroplasties do not warrant an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for a new opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, as well as to address the relationship between in-service marching, running, and low crawling and his diagnosed patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for calcification of the left medial collateral ligament was granted. However, his claims for a compensable rating for instability of the left knee and TDIU prior to April 23, 2015 were denied.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected disabilities have been granted, with the left knee disability rated at 10 percent and both right ankle and sciatica disabilities also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating for the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, finding that his disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.