Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an opinion on whether the Veteran's current left knee disabilities are related to his service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine strain, mild scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, anterolisthesis L5-S1 (lumbar spine disability), and a 20 percent rating for his service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's status post left total knee replacement is rated at 30 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability was not caused by his time in active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of February 1, 2011, for the grants of service connection for multiple disabilities.,The Veteran is granted an effective date of May 6, 2013, for the grant of a 10 percent rating for psoriasis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, as well as a nasal disorder, have been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of any higher ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his bilateral hearing loss, foot disorders, varicose veins, diabetes mellitus, and psychiatric disorder. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been presented to reopen a previously-denied claim for right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left knee chondromalacia with instability, granted a compensable evaluation for his right knee chondromalacia, denied his claims for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine disability, left wrist fracture, and left ankle fracture.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and meniscal tear, is currently rated at 30 percent for extension limitation. The claimant has not met the criteria for a higher rating based on additional limitations of motion or instability.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's right knee and cervical spine disabilities, finding that they were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board also found that there was no evidence of a nexus between his IBS and his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence to support higher ratings or service connection based on his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for another VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to service, whether it is caused by or due to his service-connected right knee disability, and whether it is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee surgical scars are rated at 20 percent, effective December 15, 2009. The Board also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected left knee disability, finding that additional development was needed. The appeal is now remanded to obtain medical records and arrange further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders are not related to his active duty service or his service-connected ankle disabilities, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left and right knee disabilities were denied as the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of her symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the Veteran's incarceration and inability to be personally examined. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including back injury, right knee disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 30 percent, which does not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU. The Board finds that his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip, knee, and back disorders are not service-connected as they were not shown in service or within one year of discharge. The current disorders are also not causally related to his service-connected ankle disabilities.,While there is evidence of current diagnoses for all three conditions, the medical opinions provided by VA and private providers have consistently found no causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee DJD results in flexion limited to 120 degrees or better and full extension without instability. The VA examiner found no additional loss of function or range of motion after repetitions, no pain, fatigue, lack of endurance, or incoordination.