Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and degenerative arthritis, has been rated at 30 percent since June 8, 2011. The claim for a higher rating is granted.

The Veteran's left knee tendonitis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine have been evaluated, but service connection for these conditions cannot be established as they are not shown to be related to his military service. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of osteoarthritis of the hands, knees, and back are related to service. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with an SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) and a separate evaluation for left knee instability added to his current rating. The issues of increased evaluations for the left femur and right elbow disabilities are also addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment since November 30, 2007.

The Board is unable to determine the exact cause of the Veteran's service-connected heart disorder, but it has permanently progressed at an abnormally high rate due to his major depressive disorder and lumbar strain with arthritis. The right shoulder disorder, left knee meniscal tear, osteoarthritis of the right knee, bilateral venous insufficiency, and bilateral foot disorder are all found to be related to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was not incurred by service nor caused or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between current symptoms and military service.,Service connection was also denied for left and right knee disorders. The examiner noted no medical records indicating any knee conditions during or after service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are so severe that they preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right knee disability was granted on August 21, 2009, which is the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability has occurred. The effective date cannot be earlier than this date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected disability.,However, the Veteran's low back disorder is considered incidental and as likely as not related to advancing age rather than his in-service injuries.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee disabilities have been denied. The Board finds that the current assigned disability ratings adequately reflect the severity of the Veteran's left and right knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the Veteran refusing further VA examinations, and additional medical opinions are needed to determine the etiology of his left knee disorder and type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is proximately due to or a result of his service-connected right knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome has resulted in symptoms such as painful motion, but not to a degree warranting an increased rating prior to February 18, 2011. Since then, the condition has resulted in some functional impairment, but not enough for a higher rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for his claimed bilateral hip and knee disorders as there is no medical evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities were granted a combined initial rating of 10 percent for the period from September 5, 2003 to March 5, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, has been reopened and granted. The Veteran is now entitled to an increased rating of 30 percent for his left knee disability with instability.