Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The gastrointestinal disorder claim is being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities have been granted in a May 2012 rating decision. The appeals are dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's right knee disability is manifested by instability, pain, subjective giving way, weakness and stiffness, resulting in moderate lateral instability. The Board finds the criteria for an initial rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for service-connected right knee instability have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee retropatellar pain syndrome was manifested by aching pain, stiffness, occasional locking, and episodic swelling; flexion to 85 degrees with pain; and extension to 0 degrees for the rating period from November 12, 2004 to December 13, 2007. For the rating period from December 13, 2007, the Veteran's right knee retropatellar pain syndrome was manifested by severe pain, stiffness, swelling, lack of endurance, weakness, locking and instability; flexion to 100 degrees with pain; and extension to 0 degrees. The Board has granted a rating of 10 percent for this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The appeal of entitlement to Total Disability due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) was withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran requested to withdraw the appeal for prostate cancer at his September 2012 hearing. The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder requires additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee subluxation and other conditions, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues listed on the title page of this decision, indicating he now understands the VA system and wishes to withdraw these claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability and granted service connection for a right shoulder rotator cuff tear with tendinopathy.,Service connection was also granted for a right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination to determine if any additional disabilities were caused or aggravated by a fall on June 9, 2008.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including posttraumatic arthritis and instability, is currently rated at 20 percent. The issue of secondary service connection for a low back condition remains unresolved.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a knee disorder and granted it. The psychiatric disorder and sleep disorder claims were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination regarding his back disability and an SOC on the increased rating claim for left knee disability. The issues of service connection for a back disability and initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability are being addressed.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals regarding the increased ratings for PTSD, retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee, and residuals of a right knee injury. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee with ACL deficiency and arthritis, finding that the current evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent disabling effective November 29, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder other than the service-connected scar was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are directly related to her active duty service, thus granting her claims for service connection.