Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in service and may not presume to have been incurred in service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's DJD of the left knee and right knee, as well as his right peroneal palsy with symptomatic foot drop, are all granted service connection. The Board found that these conditions were related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee and left hip disabilities were denied as there was no evidence showing that the conditions warranted a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it began during active service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for obesity is denied as obesity is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for left knee disorder, nose disorder (broken nose residuals), and heart disorder were granted. The appeal is granted on these issues.,PTSD claim was dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability aggravated his service-connected right foot disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability and right shoulder disability. The claims are now remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The effective date is set at October 20, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support such determinations.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for limitation of flexion in both knees from September 29, 2010 to February 8, 2018.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including low back strain and hypertension. The claims are remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD prior to December 27, 2016 is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an initial rating greater than 30 percent prior to this date. However, beginning December 27, 2016, a 70 percent rating is granted for PTSD. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee are being remanded due to need for additional medical examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions, as well as a compensable evaluation for his left wrist radius fracture status post open reduction in internal fixation, and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residual scarring of the left wrist. The evidence does not support these claims.,The Board found no current diagnosis of a left or right knee disability, and denied service connection based on lack of proof of a present disability.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis, painful motion with extension of the knee, and instability were granted separate ratings of 10 percent each prior to April 2, 2014. The total replacement of his right knee was granted a disability rating of 40 percent starting from June 1, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected right elbow, left knee, and postoperative right knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development due to the length of time since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board finds there is new and material evidence to reopen his claims.,Service connection has been granted for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for joint pain (arthralgia) to the right shoulder, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee that is due to a diagnosable but medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness of unknown etiology. The Veteran's service in Southwest Asia is presumed to have caused his joint pain.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a back disability and bilateral knee disability due to insufficient evidence, including lack of VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right knee disability and service connection for his lower back disability are remanded due to inadequate examinations, incomplete medical records, and need for further development.