Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was received by VA on May 31, 2007, more than one year after his discharge from military service. Therefore, the earliest possible effective date is May 31, 2007.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for his right and left knee disabilities are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's right hip disability is claimed as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The low back disability claim has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish a direct relationship with service.,Service connection for residuals of a fractured proximal phalanx of the third finger was denied due to lack of residual or chronic disability.

The Veteran's right knee injury during service resulted in current residuals, including limitation of motion and pain. However, there is no evidence of a chronic left hand disability that began during or was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement is rated at 60 percent disabling, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 5055.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for residuals of fractured jaw, residuals of shell fragment wound, right testicle, residuals of shell fragment wound, legs/knees, and residuals of shell fragment wound, right hand. The new evidence submitted is considered material as it relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the merits of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right hip, knee, or leg disabilities and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to service or his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity and manifestations of his service-connected knees and bilateral ankle and feet disabilities. The examiner should also address whether any current bilateral ankle and foot disabilities are causally or etiologically related to parachute jump landings during military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability prevents him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee injury was not caused by VA domiciliary care, and therefore denied his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for left knee disability. The appeal is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for joint pain, muscle fatigue, headaches, skin rash, and problems taking deep breaths, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were granted, with the specific issues related to his left knee disability being addressed. The Veteran was awarded a higher rating for his residuals of partial meniscectomy and arthritis, but not for his total knee replacement.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he had died before the Board could make a decision on his claim for an increased evaluation for left knee arthritis with patellofemoral syndrome prior to October 4, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and did not find a presumption of service connection due to exposure. The right knee and ankle disorders were not shown to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's right knee injury has been rated as 10% disabling since October 21, 2006, with no evidence showing it warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the receipt of relevant evidence after a supplemental statement of the case was issued.

The Board found that the reduction of the evaluation for limitation of extension of the right knee from 10 percent to 0 percent was proper, as there is no evidence showing the Veteran's knee had extension limited to 10 degrees or more at any point during the appeal period.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left knee disability and did not address the secondary service connection claim for peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide exposure.