Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the lack of a Statement of the Case for the issue of payment of CRSC/CRDP. The case must be returned to the Board only if the Veteran perfects his appeal.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's motions alleging clear and unmistakable error in the December 2011 Board decision were dismissed due to the Court's August 2013 Memorandum Decision affirming the Board's decision, which became final.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, including his meniscus tear and osteoarthritis, was not incurred in or caused by an in-service event or injury. The VA examiner found no link between the current diagnoses and the Veteran's service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities as well as his claim for service connection for hemorrhoids. However, no new rating assigned as the evidence does not warrant a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability, including residuals of right knee surgery, is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service and arthritis of the right knee was not shown to have manifested within one year from the date of his separation from the military.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left knee disorder and nonservice-connected pension. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding his treatment records and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and earlier effective date for service connection were granted, resulting in a total disability rating of 40 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current left ankle disability and denied her claims for service connection. The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome has been rated at 10 percent, but no higher, due to painful noncompensable limitation of motion. Similarly, the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome has also been rated at 10 percent, but not higher, for similar reasons.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the increased evaluations of left knee disabilities and earlier effective date for right hip disability prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee prepatellar bursitis, but the case is remanded to determine if any other diagnosed right knee disorders are related to service or aggravated by the service-connected prepatellar bursitis.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of 'locking', pain, swelling, and giving way, has been rated at 20 percent since October 1, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right femur disorder and low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right knee disability and an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the right knee disability, and there was no indication of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 14, 2009.

The Veteran's service connection for patella-femoral pain syndrome with degenerative joint disease in both knees was granted, which qualifies him for VA healthcare.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal requires additional development and remands for a new examination, issuance of a Statement of the Case on TDIU, and readjudication of all issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with right L-5 radiculopathy were denied. The initial noncompensable disability rating for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee was not warranted prior to May 16, 2003, and a 10 percent rating from that date until June 25, 2010, was also not granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including his right knee, cervical and lumbar spine, bilateral shoulder, arm, hand, leg, head injury residuals, and acquired psychiatric disorders were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preexisting conditions were determined to have existed prior to service and were not aggravated during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and insufficient reasoning in the May 2010 VA opinion. The claims for service connection are now pending.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and a pulmonary disability (claimed as bronchitis). The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing direct service connection.