Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA joint examination and referring the issues of an increased extraschedular rating and entitlement to TDIU to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability was granted, but the RO discontinued the evaluation of the left knee based on degenerative joint disease and instead evaluated it as residuals of total left knee replacement. The Veteran appealed this decision, and the Board is considering whether he should receive staged ratings or an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal regarding the increased ratings for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left leg and left above knee amputation (previously evaluated as osteomyelitis of the left tibia).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled video hearing. He has requested hearings on multiple occasions, and the Board finds this represents good cause for his absence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a skin disability. The decision found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has determined that there may be outstanding service treatment records and VA treatment records, which need to be obtained. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development as it pertains to service connection claims for headaches, a right knee injury, hearing loss disability, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and major depressive disorder respectively. The claims for back disability and knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his physical and mental incapacity, which requires care and assistance on a regular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the failure to schedule a VA examination. The Veteran has not missed any other examinations before or since these knees.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including for knee disabilities and a back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, but denied service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder. The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is likely caused by carrying heavy equipment and walking on rocky terrain while in combat in Iraq.

The Veteran's right knee disability was found to meet the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation from September 26, 2006 to June 3, 2010. From June 3, 2010, his disability warranted a combined 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion and extension. The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability did not render him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fibromyalgia, which is claimed as pain affecting multiple joints including hips, knees, shoulders, and the cervical spine, is etiologically related to service in the Persian Gulf War. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no medical evidence establishing a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased evaluations of 20 percent each, effective from the date of the June 2012 Board decision.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right knee, left knee, and right hip osteoarthritis have been granted at 10 percent each. The Veteran is also rated separately for limitation of extension in the right hip (rated as a separate condition). The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent, with no higher rating due to lack of ankylosis or other specific criteria being met. The Veteran's left lower sciatic nerve neuralgia has not warranted a higher initial evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the left knee and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disorders. The Veteran's hyperthyroidism, sleep apnea, migraine headaches, right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, right foot disorder, myopia, swelling of the left testicle, and tinea versicolor are all found to be related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold minimum rating requirements and that he cannot be considered unemployable solely based on these conditions.