Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right knee torn meniscus and left knee degenerative joint disease prior to the effective date of a temporary total rating (TTR).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evidentiary development, including consideration of new evidence and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case. The claim of entitlement to TDIU is also inextricably intertwined with the claims on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities warranted a rating in excess of 60 percent.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU, effective December 2004.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total knee replacement surgery, was granted a higher rating of 60 percent effective March 23, 2017. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability did not begin in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active duty military service. Therefore, he is not entitled to direct service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee and neck disabilities, finding that the current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations and insufficient evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision on the merits may be made regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's right knee disability, which includes DJD and instability, has been rated at the highest possible schedular rating (60%) since March 10, 2017. The current effective date is not specified as it was granted in a December 2017 rating decision.

The Veteran's left knee strain has been rated at 10 percent since September 27, 2008. The initial rating for residuals of Lyme disease remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's lower back and right knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the lower back disability receiving a 20% rating since July 26, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the right knee is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left knee disability and therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold criteria for entitlement to a TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) and it is not factually ascertainable that he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right elbow strain and chronic knee strains have been rated appropriately, with the exception of a separate rating for slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability of the right knee.,His spastic colitis has also been rated appropriately.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, bilateral cataracts, and acquired psychiatric disability are service-connected. The Board also found no evidence of peripheral vascular disease, diabetic cystopathy, or gastroparesis.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for his right knee condition and service connection for sciatic nerve pain and a lumbar spine disability have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew these issues in his March 2017 Board testimony. The claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability was denied due to lack of evidence showing it is related to active duty.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right knee, and prostate disabilities. The Veteran's claims were not supported by current medical evidence or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the current severity of his PTSD and the etiology of his bilateral knee condition. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection of a right knee condition as secondary to left knee arthritis. The Veteran is scheduled for an examination to determine if his current right knee disability is related to service or service-connected conditions.