Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee did not meet or approximate criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule VA examinations for his claimed acquired psychiatric disability, heart disability, and left knee disability. The Board will then review the case again based on the examination results.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to March 31, 2010, for the awards of service connection for left knee laxity and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted.,Effective October 4, 2004, the Veteran was awarded service connection for these conditions. Effective March 31, 2010, he received a 10 percent evaluation for each condition.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral arthritis is the result of an injury incurred during his Reserve service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for lupus remains pending.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the bilateral sartorius insertion syndromes are each rated at 10 percent. The appeal for higher ratings remains pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his in-service stressor and established a nexus between this stressor and his current symptoms.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and his stress fractures of the right 2nd and 4th toes are not compensable. The Board denied both claims as there was no evidence to support higher ratings based on current symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability was denied as the evidence did not show that he met the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability. The current 10 percent rating is considered appropriate.

The Board has requested additional medical records and will remand the case for further development. The Veteran's current mailing address needs to be determined and both letters should be resent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and right ankle disabilities are secondary to his service-connected left knee and right foot disabilities, respectively. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of the proposed reduction in his right knee rating.

The Veteran's right knee torn lateral meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament are currently rated at 10 percent prior to March 12, 2013. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for right knee instability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence, including treatment records from VA and private physicians who have provided opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorders, including degenerative joint disease and postoperative residuals of an arthroscopic meniscectomy, are related to his military service. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee chronic sprain is related to his active duty service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has resolved all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, finding that service connection is warranted for his bilateral knee disability and right eye disability. The Veteran's bilateral wrist condition was not addressed as it appears to be a separate claim.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease was not manifested by flexion limited to at least 45 degrees or extension limited to at least 10 degrees from November 30, 2005 to March 28, 2012 and since December 5, 2013. Therefore, the initial rating of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral eye disability, renal dysfunction, urinary incontinence, heart disability, fecal incontinence, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, low back disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims have been denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.