Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's arthritis of bilateral knees had its onset during his period of active service, and the Board finds that service connection is warranted based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left and right knee disabilities, as well as staged ratings may be appropriate.

The Board denied both issues: The debt resulting from the overpayment of benefits during the Veteran's incarceration was validly created, and the claim for an earlier effective date for election of military retirement pay in lieu of VA disability compensation benefits is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a low back disability or left knee disability that is attributable to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a Travel Board hearing at the local RO in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an examination and medical opinion regarding his employability.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which includes internal derangement, synovitis, and degenerative joint disease, has been rated at 30 percent since August 1, 2009. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, right knee, right hip, and right ankle have been denied as there is no evidence that these conditions meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.,For the left ankle, the Veteran has not met the schedular criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated as 20 percent disabling from September 1, 1999; 100 percent disabling from April 17, 2009; 20 percent disabling from June 1, 2009; 100 percent disabling from May 6, 2010; and 30 percent disabling from August 1, 2011. The Veteran's right knee disability has not resulted in functional loss consistent with or comparable to limitation of motion of the leg to 60 degrees on flexion or to 5 degrees on extension.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee, low back, and bilateral ankle disabilities are related to his active service, including multiple parachute jumps as a paratrooper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral ankle disorder, DJD of the spine, bilateral hip DJD, and bilateral knee DJD are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA clinical records and an SOC on the issue of a higher rating for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including consideration of VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by his active service, nor are they proximately due to or the result of his service-connected shin splints.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, including post-total knee replacement, is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee ACL reconstruction and limitation of motion, assigning a combined rating of 30 percent. The hypertension claim was remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's claimed neck, right knee, and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right knee disorder is as likely as not secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination.