Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability since July 2013, effective from August 31, 2013. The initial ratings of 10 percent for left knee degenerative changes and lateral instability/subluxation remain unchanged. No compensable rating was assigned for the chip fracture of the right middle finger.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and contacting various parties to locate the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and left knee disabilities. The right knee disability rating issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted service connection and rated at 30 percent prior to January 5, 2010. From that date, the Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is also granted service connection but not rated as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disorder, diagnosed as arthritis, did not manifest during service or within one year of separation and is not causally related to active military service. The claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is therefore denied.

The Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the right knee has been rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation as there is no indication that his disability picture warrants an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, right knee osteoarthritis, and pes planus. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD based on DSM-IV standards.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of multiple joints, including his shoulders, hands, and knees. The evidence does not support a finding that this condition was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities are not service-connected as they are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated during his active duty service.

The Veteran's right knee disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent, and the need for convalescence following his surgeries was not established.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and right knee disabilities have been remanded by the Board due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's hearing loss had its onset in service and has been recurrent since that time, warranting service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and his bilateral knee disability is not related to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and schedule him for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the right upper extremity disability was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.,The Veteran's claim to reopen the left foot disability was reopened due to the submission of new evidence, but service connection is still denied.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions are not of probative value and additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to her active duty service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated VA treatment records, schedule the Veteran for new VA examinations for his service-connected disabilities, and ensure that all relevant evidence is considered in the decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability and reopened his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The right knee disability is found to be related to in-service injury, while the psychiatric disorder is found to have a nexus with military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of morbid obesity, sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation with history of acute congestive heart failure, and hypertension as secondary to residuals of a left knee injury with arthritis. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active duty.