Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteochondritis dissecans and degenerative changes, warrants a separate 10 percent rating for painful motion from January 29, 2010. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU prior to February 4, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is attributable to service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, left wrist DJD, and hepatitis C are related to service. The right shoulder, right knee, left knee, low back, and respiratory disabilities are not shown to be related to service. Bilateral hearing loss is also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic acquired psychiatric disability, hypertension or hypertensive heart disease, or bilateral knee disability during service. The Board found that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it began during his active duty service and has been continuously present since then.,New evidence received since the previous denial of service connection for a left knee disability indicates that the condition may be related to service. The claim will be reopened, but further evaluation is needed to determine if service connection can be established.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed again with additional medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's post-operative lumbar spine injury residuals with degenerative arthritis originated during service and granted service connection for this condition. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disorder, left knee disorder, and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and missing records, including private treatment records from Dr. R.C.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of her bilateral foot disorder was denied. Her PTSD claim has been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for DJD of the right and left knees, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronic right knee disorder during his active military service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found that any current right knee disorder is not related to his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for further development, including a new examination or medical opinion regarding the etiology of his right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for hypertension, right knee disability, or left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a new VA examination due to unavailability of treatment records from his period of active service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for arthritis in multiple joints.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The case will be returned to the Board after new examinations are obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling effective June 14, 2017.,Prior to June 14, 2017, the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability was rated as 30 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) for the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for surgical scars of the left knee. The Veteran must be provided an opportunity to perfect his appeal by filing a substantive appeal if he wishes to continue the appeal process.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since the appeal period began. The right knee disability was also initially rated at 10 percent, but a higher rating is not warranted for any point in time.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 10 percent for right knee arthritis beginning January 28, 2016.,A separate 20 percent rating is granted for right knee cartilage impairment.

The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for his service-connected residuals of arthroscopic surgery of the right knee. The Board has determined that a rating in excess of 10 percent before March 11, 2009 and in excess of 30 percent beginning March 11, 2009 are not warranted.,The Veteran's service-connected residuals of arthroscopic surgery of the right knee have been rated based on painful motion. The evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent before March 11, 2009 because the Veteran experienced only painful movement, not a limited range of motion.,Beginning March 11, 2009, the evidence shows that the Veteran's right knee extension was limited to 20 degrees. A separate compensable rating for limitation of flexion would require evidence of flexion limited to 45 degrees.