Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability, which includes traumatic arthritis following total knee replacement and revision surgery, does not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 30 percent. The evidence shows that his range of motion is within normal limits with no significant functional loss or weakness.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability and any right ankle disability. The TDIU issue remains inextricably intertwined with the left knee rating issue.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability. He also needs to provide evidence linking his bilateral knee disabilities to service.

The Veteran is granted three annual clothing allowances for the year 2013 due to wear and tear on his upper body clothing caused by his neck brace, forearm crutches, and right knee brace.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The appellant has withdrawn all issues on appeal. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee and back conditions are not related to his military service, either on a direct or secondary basis.

The Veteran's current right knee degenerative joint disease began during, or was otherwise caused by, his active duty service and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for the Veteran's right knee medial meniscus tear and degenerative arthritis, effective from November 29, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee DJD is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for service connection. The left hand disability claim was also denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including left knee instability and PTSD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease was rated at 10 percent prior to August 30, 2010. A separate 10 percent rating for slight instability of the left knee is granted for the period prior to August 12, 2010. A 30 percent rating for severe instability of the left knee is granted beginning on August 12, 2010.,The Veteran's service connection theory was direct.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of his right and left knee disabilities, as well as an initial compensable evaluation for eczema of the legs, are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected due to misconduct during the June 1991 in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee and back conditions, as well as hypertension, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current residuals of in-service motor vehicle accidents other than those related to his left rib fractures. The psychiatric disorder is also denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal was partially granted, with a 20 percent rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage (meniscus) of the right knee as of June 27, 2010. The claim for a higher rating for degenerative joint disease of the right knee remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability and whether a separate rating is warranted under 38 C.F.R. § 4.71a, DC 5259 (cartilage, semilunar, removal of, symptomatic).

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his knee conditions and TDIU was granted.