Knee decisions — 2017

The Veteran's right great toe disability was rated at 10 percent prior to August 22, 2014, and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The other issues were not addressed in this decision.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of EDS with multiple joint involvement, including left ankle instability, right and left hip bursitis, right and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome, low back strain, and left ankle tender scar, became part of her pending February 17, 2010 increased rating claim. The effective date for the award is set at June 10, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, left elbow, right elbow, and right knee disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee and lumbar spine disabilities. The claims will be readjudicated after obtaining supplemental opinions from the examiner who conducted the May 2010 examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated as 30 percent disabling since November 29, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on additional functional loss or ankylosis.

The Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia of the left knee and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine are currently rated at their maximum levels. The Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence to warrant a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and cervical spine disability were denied.,A separate rating was granted for degenerative cervical spine disease prior to October 18, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to his service or service-connected right knee disorder, and thus denied his claim for secondary service connection.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or incapacitating episodes. The temporary total disability rating for convalescence was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional information and a vocational assessment. The current service-connected left knee disability does not meet the minimum scheduler criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, right arm laceration, left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability and bilateral foot disability. The new evidence submitted since the final decisions raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and subluxation, is currently rated at 10 percent. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding no evidence of in-service injury or chronic condition that manifested within one year after separation from service. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's eczema, tinea pedis and tinea corporis have been rated as non-compensably disabling due to the nature of the skin conditions not meeting the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The scar from mole removal on the left foot has also been rated as non-compensably disabling.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left knee DJD and LLE surgical scar are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hip strain and bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome are caused by his service-connected lumbar spondylosis with spinal stenosis and neural foraminal narrowing, thus warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the knees and ankles have been denied as there is no evidence that his conditions meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are presumptively service-connected due to their presence at entry into service, as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-service onset or aggravation during service. The Veteran's PTSD is also presumed service-connected.

The Board has received notification from the appellant's representative that they wish to withdraw their appeal on all issues, including service connection for left shoulder disorder, back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and right knee disorder.