Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the Veteran's left knee disorder as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year after discharge and no medical opinion linking the condition to service. Service connection for lung cancer is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a prostate disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, and right knee condition. The decision also noted that some evidence received since the March 2007 rating decision was new and material to reopen the claim for left hip disorder.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development and clarification of the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar back strain and right knee patellar chondromalacia did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to October 23, 2000.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee and right ankle disabilities, including arthritis and gout, were not incurred in service and are not related to active duty service. The VA examination report supported this conclusion.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 90%, which satisfies the criteria for a TDIU. The evidence shows that the Veteran's PTSD renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for reentrance into a vocational rehabilitation services program was denied as he is currently capable of performing his job position and the occupation itself is suitable to his current needs.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence, particularly regarding secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral vascular disease, bilateral knee disability, bilateral leg disability (other than peripheral vascular disease), and back disability. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability and granted service connection for this condition. The skin rash was not found to be related to service, and thus denied. Migraine headaches were also granted service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including a tear of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus with chondrocalcinosis and arthritis, is rated at 10 percent. The Board granted an increased rating for instability of the left knee.

The Veteran's claims for evaluations of his psychiatric disorders, lumbar strain, right ring and little finger degenerative joint disease, left shoulder tendonitis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left ankle strain, and left foot plantar fasciitis from February 1, 2010 to September 6, 2011 were denied as the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as 'other specified trauma and stressor related disorder,' has been rated at 50 percent since March 11, 2009. The disability is characterized by symptoms such as anger, irritability, depression, concentration problems, suicidal and homicidal ideation, impairment of relationships with others, resulting in deficiencies in most areas.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis, is not related to service and thus denied for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service and have denied all claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected lumbar spine disorder. However, there is no evidence of a current right knee disability and the VA examiner opined that any right knee symptoms are likely due to age and everyday use rather than service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability, cervical spine disability, hepatitis, left knee disability and back disability. The decision found that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate any of these claims.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's appeal should be remanded for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's lichen planus is found to be service-connected due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.,Service connection for right knee disability, eye disability, and back disability remains pending as the issue was not fully developed.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for higher ratings in several of his service-connected conditions, including hypertension, lumbar disc disease with narrowing at L5-S1, left knee arthritis with total knee arthroplasty, and right knee arthritis. The Board is dismissing these appeals due to the withdrawal.