Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to November 1, 2004 were denied. The Board found that the schedular criteria adequately covered his right knee disability throughout the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee injury is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and further legal analysis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been granted increased evaluations, with the highest rating of 40 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the left hand.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized as degenerative joint disease and retropatellar pain syndrome, has been granted a 10 percent rating since August 27, 2011. The claim for service connection is considered new and material.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled Board videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, diagnosed as thoracic and lumbar spine strain, and cervical spine disability, diagnosed as cervical spine strain, are related to her service.,The Board also found that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to her service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral knee disability, as the May 2012 VA examiner's opinion was based on insufficient information and did not consider the Veteran's lay statements about documented joint pains.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral pes planus, left and right knee disabilities, and low back disability have been denied. The highest rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes is already assigned.

The Veteran's right knee disability, secondary to service-connected residuals of a right femur fracture, is rated at 10 percent since July 20, 2010. The rating for the right femur fracture remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and foot disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year of his military service. The current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for a chronic disability.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor is there evidence to support a presumption of service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and his right knee disability (prior to May 28, 2010) and TKA are also rated at 10 percent. The low back disability is rated at 10 percent, the right ankle/foot injury prior to March 1, 2017 is rated at noncompensable, and bilateral pes planus from March 1, 2017 is rated at 30 percent. Hammer toe deformities of both feet are rated as noncompensable.

Your appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing. Your claims for service connection are still pending.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and increased the rating for left knee disability to 10 percent. The Veteran's sleep apnea is found not to be related to his in-service symptoms, while his left knee disability is rated based on painful motion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 10% prior to February 20, 2014, and 40% thereafter. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and right lower extremity were each rated as 10%. His PTSD was rated as 30%, and his left leg scar was not assigned a compensable rating.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids and arthritis of the left knee are found to be service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension benefits, finding that the earliest date of claim was June 17, 2009.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability, including hallux valgus, and a bilateral knee condition. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder (paranoid schizophrenia) is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted with an effective date of June 10, 2008. The Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities and inability to work.

The case is REMANDED for the following actions: (1) Request all relevant medical records; (2) Schedule a VA skin examination to assess dermatographism disability; and (3) Schedule a VA right knee examination to evaluate its current severity. The RO should then readjudicate the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to determine the appropriate evaluations for his service-connected knee conditions, right shoulder disability, and right wrist disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded.