Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis confirmed by x-ray with painful limited motion, warrants a 10 percent rating. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the right knee disability and did not grant separate ratings for arthritis.

The Veteran's left knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating from March 9, 2005 to March 28, 2007 and from March 29, 2007 to December 6, 2007.,The Veteran's right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating from March 9, 2005 to October 11, 2006 and from December 1, 2007 to March 20, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and a claim for increased rating for right knee tendonitis.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (including panic disorder with agoraphobia) is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.,The Veteran's residuals of a fractured nose to include sinusitis are found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease and surgical scars, has been rated at 10 percent since the period prior to October 24, 2015.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from April 18, 2011 to July 12, 2013. The Board also dismissed the remaining claims for higher ratings and service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to an increase in his left knee disability, and a more updated examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to procedural issues and further development is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated based on the severity of his symptoms and range of motion. The left knee has been rated as 10 percent disabling since November 2012, while the right knee remains at a non-compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and bilateral hip disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The effective date of this grant is February 19, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and any missing documents from SSA benefits. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and lumbar spine disabilities, diagnosed to include osteoarthritis. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and coronary artery disease are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot/toe disabilities, right hip disability, left hip disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left nephrectomy with scar. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's representative suggested an addendum opinion regarding his GERD claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus is likely related to his period of active service, and the Board finds service connection for tinnitus is warranted.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including arthritis and patellofemoral syndrome, are related to his service. However, the residuals of a Baker's cyst on the left knee is not related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric, right knee, and left knee disabilities were not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including pseudofolliculitis barbae, acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral knee and hearing loss, burn scar disability, obstructive sleep apnea, TBI, high blood pressure, back disability, and tinnitus. The effective date for the grant of service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was not earlier than September 27, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, specifically private treatment records and VA treatment medical records. The case will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.