Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete service records and inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be reconsidered with new evidence and a thorough review of the Veteran's history.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and left knee disabilities need further review, as a hearing is required before another Veterans Law Judge can make a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, back disability, and left ear hearing loss are not attributable to his active service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, effective as of April 30, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected right foot plantar fasciitis, left knee degenerative arthritis with subluxation, and right knee degenerative arthritis with subluxation due to incomplete examination reports. The claims are now before the Board for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports her claim of in-service injury and current symptoms.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability due to a meniscus tear and degenerative arthritis, is currently rated at 40 percent for limitation of extension since March 2, 2016. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for an increased rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and right knee disability are pending. The Board has determined that the evidence does not establish a current disability for any of these conditions as defined by VA standards.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and found that it had its onset in service. The Veteran's other claims seeking increased ratings are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, colon cancer, an eye disability (presumably a pre-existing condition), hemorrhoids, non-allergic rhinitis, and knee disabilities. The Board also found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for right leg varicose veins, chronic venous embolism, or deep vein thrombosis. Service connection has been granted for non-allergic rhinitis due to a service-connected deviated septum.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and earlier effective date for his service-connected chondromalacia of the left knee was granted. He is now rated at 10 percent disabling, effective October 18, 2010.

The Board found that the reductions in evaluations for residuals of a right knee injury and right knee scar from 10% to noncompensable were not proper, and thus void ab initio. The Veteran's appeal is granted on both issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left knee and left hip disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his military service, and are not otherwise related to such. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disorder, finding no current disability. However, the Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as her combined rating of 90% supports this decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee enthesopathy, finding that there is no nexus between his current disability and an in-service injury. The preponderance of evidence does not support a relationship.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee DJD and instability are currently rated at the lowest possible levels (10 percent each), with no indication of more severe disability.,The Veteran has not been awarded a TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude gainful employment.