Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for extensions of temporary 100 percent ratings based on surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence due to his knee surgeries, finding that there was no evidence of severe postoperative residuals requiring house confinement or continued use of a wheelchair or crutches.

The Veteran's right knee disability was initially rated as 10 percent disabling, and a separate rating of 20 percent for episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint was granted effective April 8, 2014. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities did not manifest in service, within one year of service, or are unrelated to service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings at any stage since the effective date of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected bilateral pes planus, right shin splint with residual knee pain, and left shin splint with residual knee pain are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board found that the current left knee disability, degenerative arthritis, was not incurred in service and is not related to a service-connected right knee disability. The claim for secondary service connection was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient detail in the January 2014 VA examination report. The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability, including Osgood-Schlatter's disease and degenerative joint disease, existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder was previously denied in March 1995. New evidence submitted since that decision does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for myocardial infarction is denied as there is no medical evidence of record showing he had a myocardial infarction during or after military service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss is denied as there is no medical evidence of record showing he has memory loss disorder.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for status post cerebral vascular accident (CVA or stroke) is denied as the earliest documented CVA occurred more than 30 years after separation from military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no medical evidence of record showing he has these conditions.,There is no indication that any of the claimed disabilities were incurred in or related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. For the lumbosacral spine, his condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes. For the left knee, he was rated at 10 percent prior to November 22, 2010, but no higher based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his knee replacements and diabetes, do not render him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal has been REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral foot and knee disabilities have also been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his in-service injuries and current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his lumbar spine disorder.

The Board finds that the Veteran's income exceeded the maximum non-service-connected pension rate, thus denying his claim for non-service-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for depression that he claims is secondary to his service-connected left knee disabilities. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and updating treatment records, is needed before the claim can be decided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to consider recent and upcoming treatment records, obtain private treatment records, and provide the Veteran with another VA opinion regarding his knee disabilities.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left knee disability, which he claims is related to his active duty service. The Board finds that further development is needed as the January 2011 VA examination and opinion are inadequate due to the examiner's failure to consider multiple instances of left knee injuries during the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder are being remanded due to conflicting opinions on the etiology of his current conditions. Additional information regarding in-service paratrooping activities is needed.