Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease was manifested by x-ray evidence of degenerative changes, along with painful motion and limitation of motion. The current rating for the disability is 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bronchitis and residuals of a bone graft from the right iliac crest has been granted. The claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right knee disability and permanent total disability rating for chronic kidney disease were denied. The maximum schedular rating of 60 percent for postoperative residuals of the right knee with degenerative joint disease was maintained.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inconsistencies in audiometric test results and internal inconsistency of a VA examiner's statements regarding the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, left knee disability, and migraine headaches have been denied. The Board finds that there is no evidence of a current service-connected condition for hypertension or any other conditions related to the issues raised.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current knee, shoulder, and elbow disabilities to service. The claims were denied as there was insufficient evidence to establish a connection between the disabilities and service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all ten issues of service connection. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these matters.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition, but finds that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression as secondary to her service-connected left knee disability was reopened and granted.,Service connection has been established for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) as secondary to her service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the ratings for right knee disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's left knee disability was found to be aggravated by service, and he is now granted service connection for this condition. The issue of increased rating for lumbar degenerative disease remains pending. Service connection for PTSD is also pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, service connection for a back disorder, service connection for a bilateral hip disorder, and service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities due to new evidence of worsening symptoms since the last examination in July 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for undiagnosed left knee, right knee, right wrist, and left shoulder joint pain as due to a qualifying chronic disability under the provisions of the Persian Gulf Veterans' Act.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to missing documents and the need for a new VA examination of his right knee.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, bilateral hand rash, and an eye disability (claimed as loss of eyesight) were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis for any of these conditions and noted that the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his claimed disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise with regards to whether the Veteran's current right knee osteoarthritis is related to an incident during his active duty service in September 1976. Service connection for a right knee disability, including subluxation, has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability did not worsen beyond its natural progression during service, and therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran does not have any current cold injury residuals and the Board finds that his symptoms are more likely due to post-service conditions rather than service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury is pending. The restoration of the 30% rating for right knee post-operative residuals of instability was granted, but no separate rating in excess of 40% for limitation of motion from November 18, 2009, was granted.