Knee Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for any of the claimed conditions and finds that service connection cannot be established as the Veteran did not have a disease or injury in service that caused or aggravated these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional examinations and opinions regarding service connection for various conditions, including benign prostate hyperplasia, an acquired psychiatric disorder, hiatal hernia, GERD, PUD, chronic colitis, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of both hips, degenerative joint disease of both knees, and degenerative joint disease of both feet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right knee disorders are at least as likely as not responsible for his thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, cervical spine disorder, and left arm radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, fibromyalgia, and left knee disabilities have caused unemployability since October 9, 2008. The TDIU claim is granted effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and to update the claims file with recent treatment records. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee patellofemoral syndrome will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and right shoulder disability. The evidence did not support the Veteran's contention that his disabilities were related to service or secondary to his service-connected conditions.,There was no evidence of a current disability in service or within one year after separation from service for arthritis of the cervical spine. The examiner opined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is less likely caused by or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine and/or right foot disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his left and right knee disabilities was granted, with a 10 percent rating assigned for each knee. The decision also addressed the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left arm disability.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis, status post tibial osteotomy, was granted a 30 percent rating prior to May 23, 2009. Additionally, separate ratings of 20 percent for limitation of flexion and 20 percent for limitation of extension were granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent since September 1, 1993. The Board denied an increased rating for the period from August 23, 2005 to November 23, 2009.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, knee, and shoulder disorders. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that would warrant presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities are pending and will be remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, and the Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are likely the result of her active service, and the Board has granted service connection for both.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and a torn meniscus, has been rated at 30 percent since November 1, 2012. The Board denied an increased rating for the period prior to September 13, 2011, and did not find sufficient evidence to warrant a higher rating based on residual symptoms or ankylosis of the knee.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for post-traumatic headaches and right knee musculoligamentous strain was denied. The Board found that the maximum schedular rating for posttraumatic headaches is 50 percent, which aligns with the current evaluation.

The Board granted service connection for the residuals of a left eye injury and assigned an initial disability rating of 60 percent effective March 11, 2016. The Veteran's condition was characterized by incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks over the past 12 months.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition. However, it granted an increased rating of 20% for diabetes mellitus with retinopathy and cataracts prior to October 16, 2013.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder. The remaining claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of his right knee condition was granted, and he received a 60% rating. The appeals for an extended period of a temporary total rating due to convalescence needs and service connection for left knee disability were withdrawn.