Knee Board decisions

The Veteran is precluded from substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and hypothyroidism. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether he is entitled to TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent for the left shoulder disability or in excess of 10 percent for either knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to assess his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, right knee scars, and status post fractured sternum.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining an adequate VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent under DC 5257. From April 17, 2009, the criteria are met for a separate 20 percent rating for right knee locking, pain, and effusion under DC 5258.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling folder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current disabilities, including lower back strain, bilateral knee and ankle disorders, are not related to service or any injury sustained therein.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and the need for updated medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the joints (hands, fingers, toes of both-feet, bilateral knees, and bilateral elbows) was denied as there is no current diagnosis. The claims for increased ratings for varicose veins were also denied due to lack of evidence showing persistent edema or stasis pigmentation/eczema.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the right knee instability warranted a 20 percent rating, but not higher; postoperative fracture of the supracondylar (limited extension) and arthritis from June 20, 2012 warranted no more than a 40 percent rating; arthritis from December 7, 2000 to June 20, 2012 was rated at 10 percent. The effective date for TDIU prior to January 16, 2014 was not addressed.

The Veteran's right knee instability and degenerative disc disease have been granted a disability rating of 20 percent, effective from September 21, 2016. The Veteran previously had a lower rating for his right knee instability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is incurred during military service and granted service connection for this condition. The left leg disability, including a left knee disability, remains on appeal as there is no clear evidence of its onset or relationship to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and lumbosacral strain due to new evidence submitted since the May 1979 RO decision. The cervical spine disability is denied as it cannot be distinguished from PTSD, which precludes separate evaluations. Service connection for hypertension is denied as there was no service connection established. The Veteran's TBI is rated at 100% disabling concurrently with his PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for stiffness of the hips and knees, a low back disability, increased evaluations for trench foot disabilities, and an increased evaluation for chronic cough. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mood disorder, right femur/knee condition, left hip condition, back condition, and left knee condition, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of July 1, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hip, right knee, and left wrist disorders are not related to service or a service-connected disability. The hypertension was rated at 10% but did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying periods of service. The Veteran is also scheduled to undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee is currently rated at 10 percent for post-operative ACL repair and arthritis, but the appeal was denied for a higher rating. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for symptomatic residuals of meniscectomy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar/thoracic spine and bilateral knee disorders are not related to her service-connected pes planus, and thus denied these claims.