Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent, effective September 3, 2009. The left knee condition was not factually ascertainable prior to that date and an earlier effective date is denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period from December 25, 2008, forward has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, while the knee conditions have not been linked to service. The claims for left knee condition and right knee condition are remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's knee replacements and peripheral neuropathy claims are being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability did not substantially or materially contribute to his death. The Appellant has provided no new and material evidence since the November 2009 decision.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right knee disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities were not incurred in service, as there is no evidence of arthritis or other chronic disability during service. The VA examiner found a less than 50% probability that the current claimed disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The claim to reopen was also denied, as the new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's other claims have been dismissed due to his withdrawal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 10 percent for his left knee disability, and denied his claims for right ankle and right foot disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right hip and right knee disabilities are not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions, including his left knee arthritis. As such, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's left knee DJD has not demonstrated actual improvement in his ability to function under the ordinary conditions of daily life, and therefore, an evaluation in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for DDD of the cervical spine and assigned a 20% evaluation, effective December 23, 2015. The Veteran's claim for right leg hamstring tendon harvest was also granted.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right knee disability has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of flexion or extension, and there was no objective evidence of lateral instability.

The Veteran is granted a separate disability rating for surgical scars of the left knee that cause limited motion, as these scars are not covered by other specific DCs and their effects on motion warrant an additional rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and left hip disorders are not service-connected, with no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is service-connected, and his right hip condition is secondary to his bilateral knee disability. The decision grants these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not properly before it due to a remand of other issues, and thus the appeal is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's left knee lateral collateral laxity has been manifested by complaints of pain, frequent locking, and no more than mild instability. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to reconcile conflicting medical evidence and provide opinions regarding the onset of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right knee is service connected, with a finding in favor of granting service connection based on direct evidence.