Knee Board decisions

The Veteran is seeking service connection for the residuals of a below the knee amputation of his right leg, which he claims was caused by his service-connected right femur fracture and associated nerve damage. The case has been remanded to obtain an opinion on whether the service-connected conditions contributed to the need for amputation.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the case can be decided, including scheduling a DRO hearing and issuing a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability. The reopened claim, along with other issues on appeal, is remanded to the RO.

The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disability during service or within the applicable presumptive period, and concluded that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to her military service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current scleritis of both eyes, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The other issues were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal involves his right knee disability, including a rating for patella femoral syndrome and instability. He also seeks TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim, but denied service connection for a right knee disability as there was no showing of chronic disability resulting from an injury suffered in service.

The Veteran's left knee DJD is rated at 10 percent, effective July 27, 2007. The residuals of his left knee injury are rated at 20 percent from January 6, 2012.,For the period from July 26, 2007 to January 5, 2012, the Veteran's left knee injury residuals were rated at 10 percent. From January 6, 2012, they are rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling each, based on arthritis with painful limitation of motion. The Board finds that the current ratings are not adequate to describe the severity and symptoms of his disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ankle sprain, leg length discrepancy, bilateral hip strain, and bilateral knee strain with degenerative changes are at least as likely as not related to active military service. Therefore, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus was granted. The claims for increased ratings for the knees and TDIU prior to September 23, 2005 were denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been limited to no less than 50 degrees of flexion before experiencing pain, and it has not been manifested by flexion limited to 30 degrees or less. The Veteran does not suffer from recurrent subluxation or lateral instability of the right knee. There is no evidence of ankylosis, dislocated or removed semilunar cartilage, impairment of the tibia and fibula or genu recurvatum.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of service connection for a left elbow disability, right knee disability, chronic headaches, and an undiagnosed illness manifested by headaches and joint pain, as well as the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for hypertension.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee arthroplasty with residual scars, resulted in severe painful motion and weakness on flexion to 20 degrees due to pain, as well as mild subluxation of the knee. The Board granted a 60 percent rating for this condition effective from June 9, 2014.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a right knee disability and the Veteran's left knee disability did not originate in service or for many years thereafter, nor is it related to any incident during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral foot or knee disability that is attributable to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if he has a current knee disability and whether it is as likely as not related to his service. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disability will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service treatment records and medical evidence, as well as to schedule her for a VA examination. The goal is to determine if the Veteran has residuals of a right knee injury that may be related to her current hip, foot, and ankle conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression, is proximately caused by his service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's left knee DJD is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.