Knee Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability, finding that there is no evidence of a direct or presumptive relationship to service. The Veteran's current low back disability was first noted several years after service and there is no medical opinion linking it to his service-connected bilateral knee condition.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's right knee disability evaluation from 30 percent to 10 percent was proper based on medical evidence showing slight laxity and no other criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board grants his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected due to clear and unmistakable evidence showing they existed prior to his entry into active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin conditions and bilateral knee disorder are likely due to service, including exposure during active duty in Germany. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's above-the-left-knee amputation was not deemed to be a result of VA care or treatment, and thus he is denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for generalized arthritis and chronic left knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to his service-connected left knee disability and therefore denied the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the left and right knees, as well as thoracic spondylosis, were evaluated at a 10 percent rating since November 1, 2003. The Board found that these conditions did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected knee and gastritis disabilities due to inadequate consideration of functional impairment in the July 2004 VA examination report. The RO is also instructed to consider extraschedular evaluation for gastritis.

The Veteran's right knee disorder, including derangement and tibial plateau fracture, was rated at 40 percent from April 1, 2004 to April 7, 2006. Since then, the rating has been maintained at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of the April 2007 private treatment record, February 19, 2004 letter from his attorney, and VA examinations related to his right knee disability and low back disability. The claims are also being remanded for consideration of an extraschedular evaluation for the service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability, previously rated at 20 percent, was increased to 30 percent effective September 22, 2008.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is causally related to his active service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and effective dates related to his service-connected left knee disability was denied. The issues of secondary service connection for bilateral ankle disorder, left hip disorder, and compensation under the provision of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were also addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease of the right knee and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the minimum schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on unemployability. The case is REMANDED to obtain an opinion regarding whether he is capable of securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy and osteoarthritis of the knees, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that he is entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records from Capitol City Rehab Plus in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities are inextricably intertwined with the current claim. The appropriate questions to be addressed include the method of rating his knee disabilities and what rating is in order for what period.