Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities and above-the-knee amputation of the right leg. The Veteran's pancreatitis claim remains pending as there is insufficient evidence to determine its relationship to his service or any other condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been evaluated, and the Board has determined that a higher disability rating is not warranted for any of his claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee and right hip disabilities are not related to his service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claims.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for right knee disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the July 1995 rating decision. The Veteran's contentions are that his current right knee disability is related to a pre-existing condition from service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed knee, left shoulder, and right ankle disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence did not establish a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disorder and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for diabetes mellitus, traumatic arthritis of the left knee, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and evidence collection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral degenerative joint disease of the knees, but denied the claim on its merits. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling for the period beginning November 1, 2007. The rating reflects chronic residuals of severe painful motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a heart disability, finding that there was no direct evidence linking these disabilities to his active service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected right knee instability and torn meniscus, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee condition is service-connected due to an injury sustained during active duty. The claim for a left ankle condition, which was secondary to his right foot disability, cannot be granted as there is no confirmed diagnosis of a current left ankle disorder.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disability in service or within one year post-service, and concluded that the current right knee arthritis is not related to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability. The claim for secondary service connection was also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities alone prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic bilateral knee disability in service and insufficient continuity of symptomatology to establish service connection. The Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not linked to his active duty.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is found to be aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition, and he is granted service connection for this secondary disability. For his seborrheic blepharitis associated with seborrheic dermatitis, the Veteran is awarded an initial 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his PTSD and right knee disability. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of left or right knee disabilities, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Board found that the appellant's right knee disability was not incurred in or related to service, and denied his claim for service connection.