Knee Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of a chronic right knee disability in service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides or other chemicals during service, and whether his current conditions are related to such exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for consideration of a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a), as the combined rating of his service-connected disorders is 40 percent, effective from January 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including a fused right knee, is not deemed to be due to VA medical treatment. Therefore, the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain complete service treatment records and dental records, as well as a VA examination for the Veteran's claimed knee disorders and gum disorder. The claims are being remanded to allow for this development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability was denied because he failed to appear for a scheduled VA examination without providing good cause.

The Board found no current chronic right knee disability, to include arthritis, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability was previously rated at 10% prior to June 10, 2010. Since then, the rating has been increased to 30% for the period from June 10, 2010 to November 9, 2010 and further increased to 10% since November 10, 2010.,The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 40% (30% + 10%) for the period from June 10, 2010 onwards.

The Veteran's meniscectomy of the left knee is rated at 10 percent, effective September 29, 2010. The Board has granted a separate 20% rating for instability of the left knee, but does not have jurisdiction to address this issue in relation to his current appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that it was not granted as secondary to his service-connected left ankle and heel spur.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher evaluation due to limited flexion and extension.,The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher evaluation due to limited flexion and extension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial compensable ratings were granted, with the DDD of the lumbosacral spine receiving a 40 percent rating effective August 3, 2006. The right knee, left ankle pain, and right ankle pain each received initial noncompensable (0%) ratings effective October 7, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right heel spur, left heel spur, and left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected fracture of the right tibia and fibula. The Board found no evidence that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records and the need to obtain information from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings are being remanded to obtain updated VA examinations and any outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's disability compensation benefits were properly reduced due to his incarceration on October 22, 2005. The Board found that the law does not allow for a reduction of benefits during periods when the Veteran was out on bond.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his left knee disability and obtaining any outstanding medical records. The case will be adjudicated again after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected low back, right knee, and flat foot disabilities.