Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated based on their current functional limitations and service-connected status.,The Veteran is not entitled to increased ratings for his left and right knee strains, but a separate rating has been granted for lateral instability of the knees.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee pain, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions or aggravation during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his combined rating of service-connected disabilities has been at least 100 percent throughout the appeal period, and he was not found to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen his claims for service connection for headaches, bilateral hand and feet numbness, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and sexual dysfunction. The appeals are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral knee disability has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his authorized representative.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of the Veteran's left knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depressive disorder, bipolar disorder), and left ear hearing loss for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating claim for a left knee scar, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to issues related to his left and right knee disabilities, including limitations of motion. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her right knee condition and scars related to a service-connected right knee condition was denied. The Board found that the current rating of 10 percent is appropriate based on limitation of motion.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 3, 2009 for the grant of a TDIU based on service-connected right and left knee disabilities. This is the earliest effective date available at law.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral knee disorders, abdominal pain (hernias), headache disorder, mental health disorder, and hypertension, have been denied.,There is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for her right ankle condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disorders due to conflicting medical opinions and testimony from the Veteran regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right buttock, right groin, and right hemi scrotum scarring as well as his left knee scar are each granted an initial 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, right knee disability secondary to hypertension, right shoulder disability secondary to hypertension, and low back disability (narrowing of the disc space L4-L5 with degenerative changes at L5-S1) secondary to hypertension due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examination reports, failure to consider all evidence in the claims file, and changes in rating criteria.

The Board granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, but denied service connection for a right upper extremity disorder (hand numbness) and left ulnar neuropathy.,Service connection was established for the Veteran's left ulnar neuropathy based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that these conditions were incurred during his active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining additional private medical records and providing further information to the appellant.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is denied. The claims for joint disabilities and respiratory disability are remanded.