Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Court has ruled that this rating does not encompass her disability due to torn meniscus. The Board will now consider separate evaluations for any such disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pending Travel Board hearing request and will schedule a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the claims of depressive disorder, bilateral pes planus, hypothyroidism, and a bilateral shin disability during her hearing. The remaining issues are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that DJD of the right knee had its onset in active military service and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of a possible CUE issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities did not manifest within one year of discharge and are not related to service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a delay in hearing, and now needs to schedule a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip disability, lumbar spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for service connection for colon cancer was also denied as there is no evidence of record that the condition was incurred in or aggravated by active duty service. Service connection for a dental disability for compensation purposes was not granted due to lack of qualifying conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records related to his right knee disability. The claim will be readjudicated after the development.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including patellofemoral chondromalacia with degenerative joint disease, is found to have its onset in service and has been recurrent since then. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's left knee limitation of motion and subluxation and instability have been granted an initial rating of 10 percent, effective August 11, 2011. The issue of service connection for a right knee disability is pending.

The Board has remanded the case to allow for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and issuing a supplemental statement of the case addressing the issue of service connection for hallux valgus.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal related to the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, bilateral elbow arthritis, and a voiding dysfunction at his April 2015 Board hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability characterized by chest pain, skin rash on the back, or bilateral knee disabilities that were related to service. The Veteran's hypertension was also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been manifested by subjective complaints of pain and objective clinical findings, including tenderness and x-ray evidence of arthritis. The Veteran currently has full range of motion in the left knee (flexion to 120 degrees and extension to 0 degrees), without any significant functional limitations such as fatigue or lack of endurance.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is not related to his active service and therefore, denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right fibula disability was increased to a 20 percent rating effective February 13, 2012. He also received separate evaluations for ankylosis of the ankle (40 percent), sciatic neuropathy of the right lower extremity (20 percent), femoral neuropathy of the right lower extremity (20 percent) and obdurator neuropathy of the right lower extremity (0 percent).

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation was at least 70% prior to July 28, 2015. The evidence does not show he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the lack of records from the Miami VAMC prior to September 1998. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral knee and left hip disabilities, which are currently denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include a neoplasm of the lumbar spine, has been reopened and is granted.,Service connection is denied for hyperostosis (excessive growth of the bone).,Service connection is denied for osteoporosis (to include osteopenia).,Service connection is denied for right hip disability, to include a neoplasm and/or trochanteric bursitis.,Service connection is denied for limitation of motion of the right leg (also claimed as osteoarthritis of right knee).,Service connection is denied for viral syndrome, to include chronic fatigue syndrome.,Service connection is denied for polyarthralgia.