Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's knee disability is not service-connected, and his initial rating for polyarthralgia/arthritis of feet and hands remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left and right knee disabilities have been granted. The effective date is not specified as the decision was issued in January 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues, including the reopening of a claim for left ear hearing loss and rating claims for knees and ears, require additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including posttraumatic arthritis and instability, are rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for depressive disorder NOS. The remaining claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a back injury, fibromyalgia, COPD, and right knee disability are not related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and adjudication of his claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from substantially gainful employment, and therefore the criteria for a TDIU have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disabilities did not result from VA hospital care, treatment, or examination. The evidence does not support a finding of additional disability incurred during his stay at the Houston VAMC.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that his arthritis did not result in flexion of 30 degrees or less, lateral instability, recurrent subluxation, or ankylosis. The Veteran appealed and the Court remanded the case to the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is currently pending and requires further development due to the need for clarification regarding the use of goniometers in range of motion studies, as well as a new examination if necessary. The claims are related to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for systemic lupus erythematosus is granted. The appeal concerning the rating for left knee chondromalacia patella is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent for instability and another 30 percent for degenerative arthritis.,Both conditions are rated based on their impact on the Veteran's range of motion, with no additional limitations due to pain or other factors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities are being remanded to the AOJ for further development, including consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran was granted a temporary total evaluation based on the service-connected right knee disability requiring a period of convalescence following an arthroscopy on July 20, 2009.,The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation based on the service-connected right knee disability requiring a period of convalescence following an arthroscopy on June 2, 2010 is pending and will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a left knee disability and granted it based on continuity of symptoms since service separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his active duty service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling examinations, and considering the Veteran's claims.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing hypertension or diabetes, and the Veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome had its onset in service and is granted service connection. The Veteran withdrew his claim for chest disorder prior to a decision being made.