Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for higher initial rating and service connection were granted, with a 30% disability rating assigned for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, status-post total knee replacement effective March 1, 2010. Service connection was also granted for left knee disability secondary to right knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to establish the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining missing service treatment records and potentially reconstructing a possible in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine and bilateral knee/leg disabilities are not related to service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately following his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not permanently increase in severity during his military service and denied all claims for secondary disabilities. The Board concluded that there was no evidence of a current hip, knee, or spine disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew all his issues on appeal via written notification prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has received notification of the appellant's request to withdraw the appeal and therefore dismisses the case.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right and left lower extremity conditions are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability, thus denying his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to reassess his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disorder is not related to service or his service-connected left knee disorder, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran meets the threshold criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, with multiple conditions bringing his combined rating to 90 percent. The evidence shows that he is unable to work based solely on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records of his 1985 knee injury and any subsequent treatment. The claims will be adjudicated again.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee, right hip, and lumbar spine as secondary to service-connected osteoarthritis of the right knee.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and malignant melanoma of the left eye, status post enucleation were denied. The claim for exposure to malathion and chlordane was not addressed as it is precluded due to lack of specific claimed disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right arm, right hand and wrist, bilateral elbow, and left knee disorders are etiologically related to her service-connected right foot disability with RSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities. The claim for increased evaluations for traumatic arthritis of the right and left knees, as well as the claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability, will be reconsidered after the additional development is completed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA clinical records and affording the Veteran a VA examination of his left knee. The issues are whether service connection is warranted for the left knee disorder on the basis of direct incurrence or aggravation by service-connected right leg disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling for limitation of flexion, with a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of extension. The Veteran does not have recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, frequent episodes of locking, or effusion into the joint.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left knee has been rated at 20 percent since June 13, 2011.