Knee decisions — 2014

The Board has granted a separate 30 percent rating for degenerative joint disease with limitation of flexion of the right knee, but denied higher ratings for instability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left and right knee disabilities were denied as there was no evidence showing that the current symptoms warranted a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess his PTSD symptoms and employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service, including multiple parachute jumps during active duty.,The Board has also found that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of any right knee replacement and providing an addendum to the VA examination report.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and formally adjudicating the implied claim of service connection for TMJ/bruxism. The claims for headache disability and left knee disability are also being considered in this context.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further development of his service connection claims, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying his periods of active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the right wrist disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The right knee and hip disorders did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has ordered the Veteran to be examined and for his Social Security Administration records to be obtained in order to determine if his current psychiatric disorder, specifically schizophrenia, is related to service. The right knee disability claim will also require an examination to assess whether it was incurred during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a left knee disorder, and a left leg disorder.,The effective date of denial is not specified in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed panic disorder with agoraphobia, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The right knee issue remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disorders were denied. However, a separate initial evaluation of 30 percent for severe instability of the left knee was granted beginning on June 25, 2008.,The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disorders have been rated as 10 percent disabling since September 29, 2003. A TTR rating has also been assigned in some periods.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, right knee limited extension, and right knee instability, have met the combined rating criteria for a TDIU as of July 9, 2010.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for her left knee and hip disabilities was denied. The RO granted a separate compensable rating for limited motion of the left hip, effective March 20, 2006.,The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for her left knee disability remain in appellate status.

The Veteran's appeal on the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for a left knee disability prior to September 10, 2009 and in excess of 10 percent from that date has been withdrawn by his attorney. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider this matter.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent for anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency, with a separate 10 percent rating for arthritis. The left knee disability is rated at 10 percent for the same conditions.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings for his service-connected conditions have been granted, with the exception of his claim for an increased rating for dyssomnia.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for cervical dorsal strain and service connection for low back disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability were denied. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right hip or right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and back disabilities, but denied service connection for right wrist disability. The Veteran's left knee condition is considered to have been aggravated by military service, while his back condition increased during service. His right wrist condition was not diagnosed at any point during the appeal period.