Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability and assigned an effective date of January 28, 1997. The effective dates for loss of smell and lumbago with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine have been set at August 22, 2000.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left knee is not related to her military service or her service-connected right knee disorder, and thus cannot be granted service connection.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a link between the Veteran's current bilateral ankle condition and her military service.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at 50% from June 1, 2009 through September 29, 2010. Service connection for right and left knee disabilities is granted. The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to September 29, 2010 is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his right knee disability, including degenerative arthritis of the right knee joint status post surgery, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Veteran is now entitled to increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and mood disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including verification of periods of active duty and inactive duty training, and a VA examination to determine the relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a scheduled videoconference hearing. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for status-post right knee replacement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his level of education and occupational experience.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed cervical spine, back, hip, and knee disabilities are not service-connected. The bilateral hearing loss is granted as secondary to service due to acoustic trauma. The respiratory disorder (COPD) is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and erectile dysfunction (ED) are not related to his service-connected disabilities.,Specifically, there is no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's in-service injuries and his current conditions.

The Board has received notification from the appellant that they wish to withdraw all issues on appeal, including their request for a hearing. As such, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including post-prosthetic replacement, is rated at 60 percent from September 1, 2013. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for the period prior to July 5, 2012.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 60 percent for his left knee disability from June 1, 2016. However, the Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee disability is found to have its onset during active service and has continued since, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a total right knee arthroplasty performed in January 1998 at the Cincinnati VAMC, and is now remanding the case for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, dysthymic disorder, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood), drug and alcohol abuse, and sleep disorder were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to military service.,Service connection could not be established as the Veteran's personality disorder is not a disease or injury within the meaning of applicable legislation.