Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability is now rated at 50 percent, effective August 11, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was denied due to the lack of evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee condition is not warranted on either a direct or presumptive basis. The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's current bilateral knee conditions arose in or were related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder with PTSD and related disabilities have been rated at 70 percent since November 19, 2003. The effective date for the TDIU rating has also been established as of that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for nightmare disorder, service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, right knee condition, and left knee condition have been denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability and granted entitlement to this condition. The Veteran's current diagnoses include osteoarthritis in his right leg, left knee, hips, and headaches, all presumed secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to assess his left knee disorder, shin splints, hallux valgus of the right great toe, and residuals of a bunionectomy of the left great toe.

The Board found that the Veteran's left leg disorder, including a left knee injury, is not related to service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral knee disability, including as due to an undiagnosed illness associated with his Persian Gulf service, is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis did not manifest in service or within a year after service, was not related to service, and was not caused by or aggravated by her service-connected right foot disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder, including MDD, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examinations did not find a link between these conditions and service.

The Board found that the February 2006 rating decision awarding a separate 10 percent rating for residuals of left knee injury was clearly and unmistakably erroneous due to pyramiding, and thus reduced this rating. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet eligibility requirements for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee arthritis were restored to a 30 percent disability rating, with the reduction from 20 percent being found proper.

The Board denied an effective date prior to April 19, 2011 for the award of service connection for generalized anxiety disorder. The claim for tinea cruris was previously denied in a June 1995 rating decision and reopened based on new evidence submitted since then.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 30% based on limitation of motion, and a separate rating for mild lateral instability is granted. The right knee disability is rated at 20%. These ratings are effective from March 10, 2014.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his current right knee disability is related to his active duty service.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disability related to service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.