Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal of all remaining issues has been withdrawn by his representative.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disease within one year post-service, and the VA examiner opined that the left knee disorder is not caused by or aggravated by service-connected pes planus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee instability and degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current left knee disability, as well as evaluating his psychiatric and low back disorders. The claims will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's chondromalacia of the left knee was rated at 10 percent prior to October 5, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not establish that his conditions warranted higher ratings.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not establish that his conditions warranted higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and an old VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral knee replacements are currently rated at 30 percent each, and the Board finds that there is no evidence of additional disability warranting a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's current left shoulder condition is not related to service, while his right shoulder arthritis may be related to service. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability did not originate during service and is not related to his service-connected right hip disability. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development due to an outstanding hearing request. The Veteran's incarceration status needs clarification before scheduling a hearing.

The Veteran's bunion deformity with hammer toes of the lesser toes on the right foot is granted as secondary to his service-connected left hallux valgus. The other issues remain pending and are addressed in the remand portion.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected right knee chondromalacia and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation have been granted. The rating for the right knee has been increased to 10 percent, effective July 1, 2008, with a separate 30 percent rating for atrial fibrillation effective February 19, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as well as for obtaining any outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's left knee disability is not considered a qualifying additional disability under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 because it was not caused by participation in an approved VA rehabilitation program.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues and clarification of representation.

The Veteran's appeal was denied on all issues, including the initial rating for left long finger fracture and service connection claims for psychiatric disorder, cervical disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The appeals were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain additional information and evidence, including service treatment records from his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (IDT), as well as any outstanding private medical records. The Veteran will be provided notice regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's back disability has been granted a compensable initial evaluation of 10 percent effective August 30, 2013.,Service connection for the right knee disability was denied.