Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's hypertension and DJD of the right knee have been granted service connection, with a rating assigned.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral hands and feet, and cardiovascular disease. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and issues related to secondary service connection. The Veteran's left knee disability is under consideration, along with his claim for TDIU.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 20 percent rating for right knee DJD, finding that the reduction from a 20 percent rating to a 10 percent rating was not proper. The claim of entitlement to an increased rating for right knee DJD is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted, and his initial rating for hypothyroidism remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's right and left knee strains are currently rated as 10% each since August 28, 2012.,Prior to August 28, 2012, the Veteran was denied initial compensable ratings for his right and left knee strains.

The Veteran's organic brain syndrome is caused by his PTSD. The Veteran does not have aphasia or any disorder causing symptoms other than those associated with PTSD. Arthritis of the knees and hips was not manifested during service, it was not compensably disabling within the one year of separation from active duty or for many years thereafter, and arthritis of these joints is unrelated to service.

The claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain clarification from the examiner who conducted the VA examinations in May 2006 and March 2009 regarding the Veteran's increased disability rating for a left knee disability prior to June 15, 2009. The Veteran is seeking an increase in his disability rating.

The Veteran's right tibia/knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective January 20, 2009. The claim for increased rating has been granted.

The Veteran's left hip replacement resulted in moderately severe residuals of weakness, pain or limitation of motion following implantation of a prosthesis. The right knee disability did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of the knees is not related to his service-connected back disability and therefore denied his claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of back, neck, right knee, or left knee for which service connection can be granted.

The Veteran does not have a current left hamstring or left knee disability.,His degenerative disc disease and pars defects L3 do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is related to his active military service due to ischemic heart disease, which was presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure. The Board also found that the ischemic heart disease contributed to the cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a bilateral knee disability has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a chronic right knee disability during service and that symptoms of a right knee disability were not continuous since separation from active duty. The current evidence does not support a finding of a current right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for an examination. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and will attempt to obtain additional service personnel and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet, bilateral hammertoes, and a left knee disability are pending.

The Veteran's death on active duty was not the result of willful misconduct, and eligibility for DIC benefits is established due to his service-connected PTSD.