Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for right knee arthritis and remanded the left knee arthritis claim, increased rating for post-operative residuals of Swanson implant and subsequent removal, fractured right great toe with traumatic arthritis, and dismissed the SMC based on housebound status claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus (DM), right below-knee amputation associated with cellulitis and gangrene, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction, are found to render him unemployable. The RO is directed to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his current employability due to these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis are related to active service, while his bilateral shin disorder is not.,VA medical examinations have supported the Veteran's claims for right and left knee osteoarthritis, attributing them to parachute injuries during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, and left leg disability. The evidence did not establish direct service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and denied claims for bilateral foot disabilities, decreased libido (erectile dysfunction), and loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board found that the Veteran's suicide was not caused by any service-connected conditions, and denied claims for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's lumbar strain was rated at 10 percent prior to August 11, 2009 and increased to 20 percent beginning that date. The scar from the right inguinal hernia repair remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities have been rated based on instability and arthritis, with no evidence of ankylosis or symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage. The current ratings are appropriate.

The Board denied claims for increased ratings for right knee instability and degenerative changes, finding that the Veteran's disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran seeks a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, but the case is remanded due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's osteoarthropathy of the right knee is currently rated at 20 percent, but no greater. The Veteran's osteoarthropathy of the left knee has not met the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and service dates from the appellant's reserve component. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee prior to August 22, 2007 is not manifested by flexion limited to 30 degrees or less and extension limited to 15 degrees or more. For the period since total left knee replacement (October 1, 2008), his service-connected disability has not been manifested by severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic left knee disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that is causally or etiologically related to his active duty. The Board found the Veteran did not have a left knee disability during service and has not developed since then.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disability during service and concluded that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, bilateral stress fractures of the lower extremities, and migraine headaches as there is no competent evidence demonstrating current disabilities related to these conditions that may be linked to service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased initial rating for a right knee disability has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claim challenging the amount of Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) payment, finding that his claim was legally barred due to the nature of CRSC and TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from participating in substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability, including associated scars, did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.