Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a TDIU claim.

The Board found that the current right knee disability is not related to service, and thus denied the claim for service connection. The left knee disability was linked to a fall during active duty but no opinion was provided on whether it is post-traumatic.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, effectively dismissing the case as there are no longer any allegations of error in fact or law regarding his increased rating for left knee disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for all service connection claims.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims. The Veteran's in-service injuries are supported by lay testimony from those who served with him.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative tear of the medial meniscus and tear of the lateral meniscus with degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The Board dismissed this issue.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated based on limitation of motion and arthritis. The evaluations are granted for the periods prior to May 28, 2016, with separate ratings for flexion and extension limitations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to assess the current severity of his right knee disability and address concerns identified in the July 2014 Court-adopted Joint Motion for Remand (JMR).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current knee conditions and his service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his active service, and therefore denies the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding instability and failure to consider all relevant symptomatology in determining the severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated as 20% prior to March 22, 2012 and thereafter as 40%. The right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted a 20% rating from July 9, 2008 to May 25, 2012. From May 25, 2012 onwards, the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated as 20%. The right knee arthritis was granted a 20% rating from August 14, 2009 to April 9, 2013. TDIU has been granted.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated as 20% prior to March 22, 2012 and thereafter as 40%. The right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted a 20% rating from July 9, 2008 to May 25, 2012. From May 25, 2012 onwards, the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated as 20%. The right knee arthritis was granted a 20% rating from August 14, 2009 to April 9, 2013. TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been productive of painful motion with limited range of motion, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to ankylosis or instability.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent. The Board finds that neither knee warrants a higher rating based on current evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain new VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the etiology of his bilateral knee disability and left shoulder disability. The claims will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 20 percent for left knee instability prior to March 18, 2013 and from March 18, 2013.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the RO has not obtained all relevant VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his left and right knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a spinal cord injury, left knee disorder, right foot disorder, or right ankle disorder related to his period of active duty. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.