Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's low back and left knee disorders are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to support his claim for a right knee disability. The claim for residuals of a broken jaw remains denied as there is no indication of current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including his total knee arthroplasty and arthroscopy, are related to in-service injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The issue of an increased rating for left knee disability is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected right total knee replacement with residual scars has been rated at 60 percent since March 1, 2011. A higher rating is not warranted as the condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and therefore, denied all issues of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected low back disability, finding that his current employment does not meet the criteria for unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his left knee and hip disabilities. The issue of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) will be deferred until these other claims are resolved.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board has determined that there is no evidence of a right leg disability, to include right knee degenerative joint disease, incurred in or caused by military service. The Veteran also did not meet the criteria for an increased rating for his peripheral vascular disease and gout with arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted with an effective date of August 8, 2011. The Board found that the November 2007 rating decision denying service connection for a left ankle disorder did not contain CUE and denied reopening the claim for a left ankle disorder.

The Veteran's right knee instability and DJD were rated at 10 percent, effective March 23, 2010. The rating for right knee instability was denied, but the initial rating for right knee DJD was granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disorders as secondary to a service-connected low back disorder due to lack of evidence showing such conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including muscle group XIV and post-operative residuals, is rated at 30 percent. The Veteran also meets criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee disability, specifically degenerative joint disease, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his flexion and extension do not limit to the levels required by any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the condition is directly related to active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of an increased evaluation for left shoulder impingement syndrome remains pending.

The Veteran's left knee injury residuals are currently rated at 20 percent, effective September 5, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of moderate instability in the left knee, warranting this rating.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection of left and right knee disabilities was granted. The claim for an increased rating for a left ankle sprain remains denied.