Knee Board decisions

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for further evidentiary development, including an examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current bilateral knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder (GERD and gastritis) on the basis that it was incurred in or aggravated by service. The remaining issues of service connection for residuals of malaria, left arm disorders, bilateral leg disorders, psychiatric disorders, and dizziness/hot flashes are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of excision of an osteochondroma/exostosis of the right tibia, including atrophy and scar formation. Service connection was also established for bilateral hip arthritis. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal in August 2014 for all issues listed.

The Veteran withdrew the claim for service connection for reflex sympathetic dystrophy for multiple joints including the right wrist, right elbow, right shoulder, knees, neck, hands, legs, upper back, and lower back. The claims for service connection for a left wrist condition, right hip condition, and sleep apnea were not substantiated by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have not resulted in the required functional loss or impairment to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran is currently receiving the maximum schedular rating for his right index finger disability, which has been rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5229 due to limitation of motion. Service connection was not granted for blurred vision or visual impairment, arthritis of the right wrist, and a left knee disability.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current right knee disability to his service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board videoconference hearing at the RO. The issues of service connection and ratings for knee disabilities are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his brain tumor was dismissed due to withdrawal. A separate compensable rating of 10 percent was granted for the left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis and DDD of the lumbosacral spine are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability caused his current lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disabilities do not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture with factors such as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization, and thus the available schedular evaluations are adequate.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left knee disability has been denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of instability or pain in the left knee, and the current range of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting evidence of file as to whether the Veteran had a right knee disability and/or functional impairment of the right knee on use, and also because of new evidence submitted by the Veteran's attorney-representative.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a low back disability that is related to service and therefore, denied his claim for service connection. The claims of secondary service connection for left hip, knee, and leg disabilities are also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back and knee disorders are not related to service, and arthritis was not shown within one year of separation from active duty. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing was denied as he does not meet the basic eligibility requirements due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his low back and right knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that he is entitled to a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.