Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee osseous infarcts have been rated at 10 percent each, effective October 4, 2008. The VA examiners found no limitation of motion in either knee.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for service-connected CVA residuals and right knee injury were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back, left knee, and right knee disorders are not service-connected as they are not causally or etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development due to failure to substantially comply with previous instructions.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated as noncompensable prior to September 18, 2014 and is now rated at 10 percent from that date. The Veteran also received separate ratings for right knee instability.,For the left knee, a compensable rating was granted effective December 5, 2016, while the Veteran's pre-existing condition of left knee patellar tendinitis remains rated as noncompensable.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral knee disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is not related to his period of active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain his separation examination report and determine if any of the claimed disabilities were related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is related to in-service parachute jumps and/or running, as well as other relevant factors. The appeal will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the left knee is currently rated at 10 percent, and his flexion is limited to 115 degrees with no ankylosis. The Board finds that this does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent for the period on appeal. A separate rating of 10 percent for limitation of motion was denied. The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a head injury and hypertension were also denied.

The Veteran's chondromalacia of the left knee does not meet or approximate criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent since May 1, 2012.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper left and right extremities, osteoarthritis of the left and right knees. The Veteran is also found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for rhinitis, right finger joint pain, left finger joint pain and sinusitis during a December 2016 Travel Board hearing. The remaining issue of service connection for a right knee disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete examination findings and testimony regarding increased pain during flare-ups.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is at least as likely as not caused by or related to his service-connected right knee disability, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability resulted from an injury sustained during his service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as any outstanding private or VA treatment records should be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim of right shoulder disability, but left knee arthritis is service connected. The Veteran's right knee disabilities are rated based on limitation of motion.