Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disorder is rated at 30 percent prior to January 16, 2012 and increased to 50 percent effective March 9, 2016. The claim for increased rating of migraine and tension headaches was granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, right knee, and left knee disorders are not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection of bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's current diagnosed internal derangement of the knees is found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU eligibility were granted, with the effective date being the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that he has a current psychiatric disability related to active service.,Initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent are not warranted for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities due to the lack of evidence showing limitation of motion or other disabling symptoms warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of her claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to address whether his leg length discrepancy and right knee disability are related and if so, whether they cause or aggravate his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a schedular TDIU was denied as he did not meet the percentage thresholds for such. The Board found that his combined rating of 60% disabling from service-connected disabilities does not meet the requirements for a schedular TDIU. An extra-schedular TDIU is being referred to the Director, Compensation Service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that TDIU is not warranted.

The appeal is REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further information and compliance with duties to notify and assist. A VA examination will be conducted to assess the Veteran's functional impairment due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee is related to his active duty service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The VA examiner found that the Veteran's right knee disability is less likely than not caused by or aggravated by her service-connected degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral spine, and/or contusion of right hip.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his service and have denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's hypertension, migraines, and other service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or extraschedular evaluation. The Board denied his claim of entitlement to TDIU prior to September 10, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability did not manifest in service or within one year of discharge, and is not caused or aggravated by any aspect of service or by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability remains on appeal as he is not in receipt of the highest possible rating throughout the rating period on appeal. The Board has remanded the case to obtain a new VA examination and address functional impairment due to pain.

The Board finds the effective date for service connection of bilateral knee chondromalacia patella is April 20, 2009, as this was the date VA first received a request to reopen the claim. The Veteran's earlier September 2000 claim with the VFW CSO was not considered due to non-receipt by VA.

The Veteran's PTSD has been found to warrant a 70 percent disability rating, effective from November 13, 2009. The Board also granted service connection for the low back disability with left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee. The Veteran was also awarded TDIU benefits.