Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as well as his claim for an earlier effective date for non-service-connected pension benefits, were denied. The Board found that there were no pending claims of service connection at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's initial rating for his left knee DJD was granted at 10 percent, effective November 26, 2008. A separate 10 percent rating is assigned for symptomatic removal of the semilunar cartilage in the left knee.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee DJD have been rated as 20 percent for limitation of extension, with no higher ratings granted. The issues regarding increased flexion ratings were also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee, foot, thoracolumbar spine, left hand injury, and headache disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as a left thumb disorder, were previously denied. New evidence has been submitted but it does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Veteran's scar associated with left knee surgery is painful but not larger than 12 square inches or 77 square centimeters, and does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a neck disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, low back disability, or bilateral knee disability that is related to her active military service.,VA examinations confirmed diagnoses of DDD and DJD in the cervical spine, lumbar spine, and knees. The VA examiners concluded that these disabilities are less likely than not incurred during service.

The Veteran's right knee condition has been rated at 10 percent, the maximum non-compensable rating. The left tibial fracture with retained hardware is currently rated as 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. He is found to have current diagnoses of herpes, residuals of a right hand injury, residuals of a head injury (including PTSD), and tinnitus that are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and development.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, and bilateral knee arthritis. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing direct service connection or any other valid theory of entitlement.

For the entire appeal period, the Veteran's left knee symptomatology has been attributed solely to his nonservice-connected left total knee replacement, secondary to degenerative joint disease, and his service-connected traumatic bursitis does not result in functional impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability (other than dyshidrosis) was not incurred or aggravated during his period of service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability due to aggravation during service. The claim for a right leg disability is pending and requires further evaluation.

The Board finds that the appellant's left knee degenerative joint disease, resulting in a total knee arthroplasty, is service-connected as it was aggravated during his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA).,Service connection for a left hip disorder is denied as there is no evidence to support its secondary relationship to the appellant's pre-existing left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left leg condition, diagnosed as neuropathy due to femoral nerve compression and post-herniorrhaphy neuralgia, is proximately due to his service-connected left inguinal hernia. Therefore, the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of traumatic brain injury, manifested by headaches, is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, and chronic disabilities of the knees and ankles are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hand and wrist tenosynovitis is not currently shown, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted.