Knee decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee condition did not have its onset in service or for many years thereafter, and a preponderance of evidence fails to establish it is otherwise related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee has been rated at 10 percent since February 2009, and is not more than this level.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to disease or injury in active service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the issue by his attorney.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar strain is not found to have caused or aggravated any of his claimed bilateral hip, knee, ankle, or foot disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability is not service-connected and his claim for an increased rating of residuals of shrapnel wound to the right foot was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that the right knee disability was caused or aggravated by the service-connected right foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and any necessary imaging studies to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability. The RO will then re-adjudicate the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling of VA examinations and obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's right knee post traumatic postoperative degenerative joint disease and residual surgical scars are currently rated at 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted prior to April 17, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a new VA examination to assess his right knee disability.

The Veteran's right total knee replacement is rated at 30 percent, left knee arthritis prior to December 15, 2009 is rated at 10 percent, and left total knee replacement from February 1, 2011 is rated at 60 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have onset in service and is granted service connection. The Board also finds that the Veteran has other disabilities, including bilateral knee, hand, and back disorders, which are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected bilateral restless leg syndrome, chondromalacia patella of the left knee, and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the thoracic spine were denied. The RO assigned initial noncompensable ratings effective January 2008.

The Veteran's left knee disability results in subjective complaints of pain, weakness, stiffness, and occasional giving way. The VA examinations reveal full range of motion with limitation at the point of pain. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for his service-connected left knee sprain.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and initial disability ratings were denied. The RO found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of December 10, 2006 for the award of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as chondromalacia patella (arthritis), is presumed to have been incurred in service due to a right knee injury during active duty and continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's request for an extension of a temporary total rating beyond July 31, 2009 for postsurgical convalescence due to his right knee surgery is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee and left shoulder disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service.,The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's low back disability was less likely as not caused by her period of active service.

The Veteran's back disability is granted as service-connected. The claims for hypertension, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, and bilateral hip disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development.