Knee Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability and finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his preexisting knee injury was aggravated beyond its natural progression during service. As such, the claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling him for a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is at least as likely as not due to his service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and reopening of service connection claims were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims, or was not new and material.

The Veteran's service-connected urinary stress incontinence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it only requires wearing absorbent materials that must be changed less than two times per day. The other service-connected conditions have been rated based on their current manifestations.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis and instability are not rated higher than the currently assigned disability ratings.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee trauma but denied it on the merits. The Veteran's current right knee disability is not caused by or related to his active military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for respiratory, cervical, low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral shoulder disorders.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right leg disorder has been withdrawn. The Board also finds that the Veteran does not have established service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. For the period prior to April 13, 2016, the Veteran is granted a 10% rating for his left knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, effective from the date of the claim. The Veteran's hypertension is related to her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 24, 2012, to June 30, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is more likely than not aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at a 30 percent level, and service connection for his right and left knee disabilities has also been granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, effective October 2010.,The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent, effective October 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disorder is found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for accrued benefit purposes.,For the left knee chondromalacia, a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities have been rated and the Board has determined that an increased rating is warranted for osteoarthritis of the right knee, but not for residuals of a right knee meniscectomy. The Veteran also meets criteria for TDIU.

The Board found no evidence of in-service events, injuries, or diseases related to the Veteran's current diabetes mellitus type II, heart disease, peripheral neuropathy, stroke, stomach disability, amputations, renal disease, and anemia. The claims are therefore denied.