Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been denied as he is not shown to be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disorder and cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not etiologically related to his in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gouty arthritis of the bilateral feet and joint disabilities of the bilateral ankles, knees, and elbows are related to his in-service anthrax vaccinations. As a result, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and determine the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability, as well as its impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on April 25, 2008 at Memorial Hospital were not authorized by VA and did not meet the criteria for reimbursement under applicable laws.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected residuals, left knee injury with ACL tear postoperative did not meet or approximate the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent under any applicable rating code. The preponderance of evidence is against a higher initial evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by a meniscal tear and degenerative joint disease, had not improved under ordinary conditions of life to warrant reducing his evaluation from 20 percent to 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for hypertension, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for a service-connected left knee disability, prior to October 1, 2011, and entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for a service-connected left knee disability, as of October 1, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background. The claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since the grant of service connection, reflecting noncompensable limitation of motion. The current examination findings do not support a higher rating based on additional functional impairment due to pain or other factors.

The Board found that the appellant's left knee disorder did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and is unrelated to any period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA. The appellant's service-connected lumbar spine disorder did not cause or aggravate his left knee disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee conditions and a right shoulder disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his active duty service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and clarify the opinion provided by the VA examiner regarding whether his preexisting right knee disability was aggravated by service.

The appellant's non-service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the thoracic spine and right knee pain, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total rating for non-service-connected pension benefits.