Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for left foot disability, right foot disability, and right leg disability were dismissed. The Board granted service connection for left knee strain and degenerative joint disease, as well as lumbar degenerative disk disease and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease and instability have been rated at 10 percent since the appeal period began, with a separate noncompensable rating for limitation of flexion. The Veteran has demonstrated mild instability throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral knee and low back disabilities, alleging that these conditions are related to his military service. The Board has ordered additional development of the claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition. However, after reviewing all available evidence, including VA medical records and lay statements, the Board concludes that there is no showing of arthritis in the Veteran's right knee within one year following separation from active service, thus precluding application of the presumptive provisions for arthritis. The Board also finds that the Veteran's current statements regarding his knee condition are inconsistent with other evidence of record and therefore lacks credibility. As a result, the claim for service connection for a right knee condition is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his bilateral knee and ankle disorders as well as his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee chondromalacia have been rated at 10 percent each, with no additional evaluations granted for instability or painful motion.

The Board found no evidence of direct service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee and low back conditions, as her current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection. The medical opinions provided by VA examiners were consistent in their conclusion that there is no link between the Veteran's current conditions and her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the service-connected back disability, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's post-operative partial right knee replacement symptoms have been rated at 60 percent since February 1, 2017. The Board found that the highest schedular rating available for his service-connected right knee disability is a 60 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities. The case is now pending before the RO.

The Veteran's service-connected osteochondritis dissecans of the left knee is currently rated at 10 percent, and there is no evidence showing that his disability warrants a higher rating.

The Board finds that there is no current evidence of a bilateral knee disability, and thus the criteria for service connection are not met.

The Veteran's postoperative residuals of a total right knee replacement are currently rated at 30 percent since January 1, 2017. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on severe painful motion or weakness, and that there was no evidence of ankylosis, nonunion of the tibia and fibula, or limitation of extension to 30 degrees or more.

The Veteran's right and left knee conditions have been evaluated as degenerative arthritis, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors.,The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for each knee under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5024.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10% prior to February 20, 2008. The Board has now granted a higher rating of 20% for the period before February 20, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an addendum opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee and hip disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating prior to August 29, 2007. The Board has also granted TDIU for the period prior to August 29, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule new VA examinations for his right knee, right shoulder, and left wrist disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, including hearing loss, hip, knee, and ankle pain, and a respiratory condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all service-connected. The rating for the compression fracture of T12-L1 remains at 20 percent.