Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities have been dismissed as he withdrew them prior to the decision. The Board also granted entitlement to individual unemployability (TDIU) due to multiple service-connected conditions preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bunions of the bilateral feet are not service-connected, and his left knee chondromalacia is rated at 10%.

The appeals have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, finding that the current 10 percent ratings adequately reflect the severity of her symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for left inguinal hernia status post surgery was dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for left knee and left foot disorders, as well as TDIU, due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The effective date for the 60 percent rating of his left knee disability is set at January 30, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his service-connected knee disabilities contributed to his fatal myocardial infarction.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for tinnitus and PTSD have been denied as there is no evidence of an earlier claim or intent to apply for benefits.,For the remaining issues, including service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, low back disability, skin rash, and initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, the case has been remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder tendinopathy with tears of the tendon and labrum, as well as osteoarthritis of the right knee. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction (ED), which the Board found to be unrelated to service.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is characterized by marked knee disability, and he is granted a separate rating of 30 percent from July 30, 2009 forward for the right knee instability. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression and PTSD is granted an increased rating of 70 percent from February 28, 2011 forward.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, specifically his claim that it may have started during a weekend drill in June 2006. The VA needs to verify this period of service and obtain any relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee instability and patellofemoral pain syndrome were denied as the evidence did not support higher disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations to ensure that the VA examinations are adequate and include all necessary testing.

The Board has granted service connection for gout of the bilateral knees and bilateral ankles, but denied service connection for gout of the bilateral elbows. The Veteran's gout in his knees and ankles is considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee condition, including his meniscus tear and degenerative arthritis, is being reviewed due to new evidence submitted since the last decision. The Board has decided that this issue needs further consideration.

The Veteran's disability rating for left knee trauma is denied as his condition does not warrant a higher than 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need to consider additional VA treatment records and ensure proper consideration of all evidence.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the case is no longer in appellate status.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on his right knee disabilities and bilateral hearing loss disability are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the right knee disability.