Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted a non-compensable rating for actinic keratosis prior to November 21, 2015, and a 10 percent rating effective from that date.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected chondromalacia of the right knee has been granted, with a separate 10 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5260 added to the current 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service and thus denied all claims for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a right knee disability and is denied. For her left shoulder disability, the evidence shows that she meets the schedular requirements for TDIU but there is no plausible basis to conclude that her service-connected condition prevents her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board granted increased ratings of 10 percent for right knee status post meniscectomy and left knee traumatic arthritis, effective from August 15, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability did not first manifest during service and is not causally related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current dermatophytosis is a continuation of his in-service fungal infection, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee, cervical spine, and lumbosacral spine disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The case will be returned to the Board after further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's upper back and left knee disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD is currently rated at 20 percent, and his right knee DJD is currently rated at 10 percent. A separate 10 percent rating for right knee DJD based on limitation of extension was granted from November 12, 2014 to April 15, 2016.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right foot disability, effective May 19, 2015. The Veteran was previously rated at 10 percent prior to that date.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left knee disability, including testing for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing, and with the range of the opposite undamaged joint. Any outstanding, pertinent VA outpatient treatment records and private treatment records identified by the Veteran should be obtained.

The Board dismissed the claim alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a July 1976 rating decision assigning an initial noncompensable rating for left knee chondromalacia. The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for a 10 percent rating was also dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is related to his active military service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for increased rating of the right knee disability remains on appeal.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his right shoulder and left knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's left knee residuals of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and instability have been rated at 10 percent each, effective from March 2010. The separate rating for instability is effective since the date of his claim in May 2010.

The Veteran's left knee surgery required a temporary total convalescence rating from November 13, 2015 through May 31, 2016.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated based on symptoms and functional impairment, with a separate rating for residuals of meniscectomy prior to June 2007 and a higher rating from June 11, 2007 onwards.