Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's depression was not found to be related to service and was denied. Service connection for a right leg/knee disorder was granted, but no compensable rating was assigned.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination of his left knee and obtaining outstanding medical records.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including migraine headaches, left knee disability, right knee disability, low back disability, sciatic nerve disability, and depressive disorder, are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's disability status post left fibula fracture with surgical scar and post-traumatic arthritis of the left ankle and left knee has been rated at 20 percent since July 15, 2011. The evidence does not support a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, effective May 4, 2017. The Board has granted a non-compensable rating for the period prior to May 4, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and right knee patellofemoral syndrome were denied as there was no evidence of ankylosis, favorable or unfavorable, at any level of the spine. The Veteran's range of motion testing did not indicate limitation sufficient to warrant a 20 percent or higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and thoracolumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for appropriate examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are not related to his military service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremities disability, peripheral neuropathy of the left leg, and osteoarthritis of bilateral feet, knees, and hips were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions are less likely than not related to cold weather exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions are not related to his military service. The Board also found no evidence of a compensable degree of hearing loss in the right ear within one year after separation from service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities or right ear hearing loss to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability. The current 10% ratings are considered appropriate.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiologies of the Veteran's gouty arthritis and a review of his VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the current severity of his left knee disability.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher 50 percent rating is warranted based on very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The initial increased rating for left knee strain remains under review.

The Veteran's appeal for reopening a claim of service connection for a left knee disability, an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, type II, and an increased rating for PTSD is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is related to his time in service, and the Board finds service connection is warranted.

The Veteran's low back strain has been rated at 40 percent since October 19, 2010. The increased ratings for chondromalacia patella of the left and right knees are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability was denied in October 2001, but new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim. The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic left knee disability during active duty or within one year after separation from service.,Service connection for anemia was granted based on new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the Veteran and his representative, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.