Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee and right hip disorders did not have their onset in service, are not otherwise related to service, and are not shown to be caused by or aggravated by his service-connected spondylosis, L-5 vertebra, with degenerative disc disease at L4-5 and L5-S1.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after rescheduling the hearing.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and a temporary total evaluation based on service-connected disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support the need for such evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his right and left knee disabilities. The issues of entitlement to service connection on secondary basis for obesity (due to lack of mobility caused by knee pain) are referred back to the RO/AMC.

The Veteran's combined rating for right knee disabilities is denied, and he remains rated at 40 percent overall. The left knee disability continues to be rated at 10 percent. The right thumb disability does not warrant a compensable rating. His service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, increased ratings for various disabilities, and entitlement to automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment. The issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, status post knee replacement, is related to his period of service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his prostate cancer, hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, sleep disorder, arthritis, left knee condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has remanded the case for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disability and obtaining all outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee osteoarthritis is related to his service, as evidenced by continuous symptoms since separation from active duty. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current left or right knee disability, and thus the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including GAD and Depressive Disorder NOS, are related to his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI). The heart murmur noted at service separation is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes. Cold sores have been diagnosed since service and are attributed to herpes simplex type 1. Service connection has been established for psoriasis, but no service connection has been granted for psoriatic arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist arthritis, left knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during the appeal period or proximate thereto.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim of entitlement to DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that she was not entitled due to her service-connected right and left knee disabilities not meeting the criteria for a 100% rating continuously since separation from service.

The Veteran's service connection for GAD and Depressive Disorder NOS, as well as psoriasis, has been granted. The heart murmur noted at service separation is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes. Service connection for cold sores/herpes, peripheral vestibular disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, joint pain in the hips, knees, elbows, fingers, toes, neck, and spine (claimed as due to Gulf War illness), muscle pain in the neck and upper and lower back (claimed as due to Gulf War illness), chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disorder claimed as due to Gulf War illness, and sleep disturbances claimed as due to Gulf War illness have also been granted. The 60 percent disability rating for seborrheic dermatitis has been restored.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability have been denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of the conditions listed.

The Veteran's low back strain was granted a rating of 40 percent effective September 23, 2014. The right lower extremity radiculopathy and post-operative right knee instability were both granted separate ratings.

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis has been rated at 30 percent since October 25, 2005. The Board finds that the Veteran met the schedular criteria for consideration of TDIU from October 25, 2005 to February 8, 2006, and from September 1, 2006 to July 21, 2011, and from September 30, 2011 to August 29, 2012. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in unemployability during these periods.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder, bilateral leg disorder, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and bilateral hip disorder as secondary to a service-connected right knee condition. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during service or related to service.