Knee decisions — 2017

The VA examiner found that the Veteran's right knee disability is less likely than not caused by or aggravated by her service-connected degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral spine, and/or contusion of right hip.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his service and have denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's hypertension, migraines, and other service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or extraschedular evaluation. The Board denied his claim of entitlement to TDIU prior to September 10, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability did not manifest in service or within one year of discharge, and is not caused or aggravated by any aspect of service or by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability remains on appeal as he is not in receipt of the highest possible rating throughout the rating period on appeal. The Board has remanded the case to obtain a new VA examination and address functional impairment due to pain.

The Board finds the effective date for service connection of bilateral knee chondromalacia patella is April 20, 2009, as this was the date VA first received a request to reopen the claim. The Veteran's earlier September 2000 claim with the VFW CSO was not considered due to non-receipt by VA.

The Veteran's PTSD has been found to warrant a 70 percent disability rating, effective from November 13, 2009. The Board also granted service connection for the low back disability with left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee. The Veteran was also awarded TDIU benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disorder did not have its onset during his active service, arthritis of the right knee did not manifest within one year of separation from active service, and his current right knee disability is not otherwise related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to evaluate the severity of his right knee disability, as the previous examinations did not include all required testing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for VA examinations regarding service connection claims for low back, right great toe, and right knee disabilities as well as headaches.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee condition with degenerative changes and mild chondromalacia was granted. The Board also found that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right knee is related to his service-connected left knee condition, granting secondary service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected ankle and knee disabilities are denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis in either ankle, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee chondromalacia with an initial evaluation of 10 percent each, effective the day following the Veteran's separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for postoperative residuals of the right knee with degenerative joint disease prior to January 6, 1999 and from April 1, 1999 to December 11, 2011 is being remanded due to scheduling issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis was not incurred during her active duty or Reserve service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability, other than limitation of motion, which is evaluated separately under a rating for arthritis of the knee, has been manifested by complaints of locking twice per week with no instability noted in November 2016. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been granted. He is now entitled to a 10 percent evaluation for his left knee degenerative arthritis, effective from April 1, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip disability and bilateral knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board found that the claimant's right knee and lumbar spine disabilities are not related to service, thus denying her claims for service connection.