Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining treatment records and a VA fibromyalgia examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for residuals of a fracture of the right tibia and osteoarthritis of the right knee is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations at any time.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities was denied. He is currently rated at 10 percent for degenerative joint disease and 30 percent for instability of the right knee, both effective October 15, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to his in-service injury and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left leg pain has been attributed to peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is not related to service. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left hip or knee disabilities for which service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities. The AOJ should also consider whether he is entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and VA/VA treatment records. The case will also be reviewed to determine the etiology of any current back disability and whether it is at least as likely as not related to service or service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he does not meet the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only due to a loss of use of one or both feet, hands, or vision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and low back condition are secondary to her service-connected disabilities, specifically bilateral pes planus. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, a left leg disability (to include arthritis of the hip, knee, and leg), and PTSD. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each since May 31, 2006 to September 28, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he can perform sedentary work despite his physical and psychiatric conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection in part, including for tension headaches and bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, prostate condition, ankle/knee conditions, left side pain, and shoulder conditions were also addressed but not granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination and compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, hypertension (secondary to PTSD), initial rating for PTSD, and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease resulting in current disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, elbow, and knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board found that the current disabilities of the knees, low back, and neck are unrelated to an injury, disease, or event in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left knee and irritable bowel syndrome were denied. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability, nor does he meet criteria for a higher evaluation for his irritable bowel syndrome prior to August 22, 2013.