Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal due to a withdrawal request from the appellant's authorized representative.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, right knee displacement, and lumbosacral strain. The Veteran was also not granted a TDIU due to lack of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to pending issues of entitlement to earlier effective dates for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, a stroke, PTSD, and depression. The issue of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death remains pending.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 20 percent for instability, a separate 10 percent rating for meniscectomy residuals, and a separate 10 percent rating for severe arthritis with painful motion. Since June 6, 2012, the Veteran's extension limitation warranted an additional 30 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, including degenerative joint disease, is not related to her active or reserve service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU benefits was granted effective from the date of receipt of his February 22, 2008 claim. The combined rating for his service-connected disabilities has been in place since April 8, 2006.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for left hand, left foot, right and left hip disorders, as well as a right knee disorder. The decision also denied his increased rating claims for left knee disability and lumbar spine disability. Service connection was not granted because there is no evidence that these conditions are causally or etiologically related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the necessity for the Veteran's right above the knee amputation was not caused by VA's carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment. The amputation resulted from an embolism and subsequent thrombosis of his leg.

The Veteran's left knee synovial chondromatosis with degenerative joint disease and instability were not found to warrant increased ratings prior to July 14, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional examination and review of records, as well as consideration of new evidence presented by the Veteran's attorney.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various issues, including service connection claims and an increased rating claim. The Board found no evidence of PTSD or a diagnosis thereof, and the right knee disability did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran does not have a current bilateral knee disability that is related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral shin splints, but granted service connection for PTSD with a 100% rating effective January 25, 2012. The Veteran's total evaluation for PTSD is not considered permanent.

The Board has granted service connection for back, right ankle, and bilateral knee disorders as due to a qualifying chronic disability. The issue of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and headaches is being remanded.,Headaches are secondary to the service-connected irritable bowel syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled Board hearing. The issues are related to the effective dates of service connection awards for various conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that an evaluation in excess of this rating is not warranted. The left knee and low back disabilities are not service connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left leg disabilities, including chondromalacia and osteoarthritis of the knee and an associated ganglion cyst of the hip, are not related to his military service. The Board determined that the Veteran's symptoms were more likely due to normal aging process, previous injuries, and occupational stress.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome and arthritis have been rated at a 10 percent disability rating since March 1, 2005. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased evaluation due to lack of functional impairment congruent with higher ratings.

The Veteran's right knee disorder was not shown to be incurred during service or due to a service-connected condition, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.