Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is found to be service-connected as the evidence shows an in-service injury or disease and continuous symptoms since separation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PFB, hypertension, right knee disorder, and low back disorder. The evidence did not support a compensable evaluation under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability and dislocated semilunar cartilage, is rated at 20 percent from February 23, 2012.,Separate ratings of 20 percent are granted for instability in the left knee and dislocated semilunar cartilage.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, characterized by mild instability, does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right hip disorder, heart disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or hypertension that was incurred in service. The Board also found no evidence of a right knee disorder that is related to service.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including a clarification of the examination and opinions regarding the left knee and leg disability.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to a scheduling issue for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for low back strain, right knee disability, and eczema remain in controversy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated clinical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected cervical strain and right knee disability.

The Veteran's representative has argued that the Veteran's right knee disability may have had a direct causal origin in his active military service, particularly as it relates to repeated stresses experienced during parachute, infantry, and Army Ranger service. The claim is being remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with left lower extremity weakness, effective from December 22, 2011. The appeal is also granted for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints as secondary to the low back disability and GERD.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for an automobile and adaptive equipment, specially adapted housing, or special home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back strain with DDD, right knee sprain, and left knee sprain were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including osteoarthritis of the right knee, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since March 30, 2011. As a result, he is granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board grants a TDIU with a combined rating of 70 percent.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 70%, which meets the schedular criteria for TDIU. However, the evidence does not support a finding that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral eye condition was remanded, but no supplemental statement of the case has been issued yet.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee replacement with surgical scar, is rated at 60 percent due to severe painful motion and weakness.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU since September 25, 2008 due to service-connected disabilities.