Knee Board decisions

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that his arthritis did not result in flexion of 30 degrees or less, lateral instability, recurrent subluxation, or ankylosis. The Veteran appealed and the Court remanded the case to the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is currently pending and requires further development due to the need for clarification regarding the use of goniometers in range of motion studies, as well as a new examination if necessary. The claims are related to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for systemic lupus erythematosus is granted. The appeal concerning the rating for left knee chondromalacia patella is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent for instability and another 30 percent for degenerative arthritis.,Both conditions are rated based on their impact on the Veteran's range of motion, with no additional limitations due to pain or other factors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities are being remanded to the AOJ for further development, including consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran was granted a temporary total evaluation based on the service-connected right knee disability requiring a period of convalescence following an arthroscopy on July 20, 2009.,The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation based on the service-connected right knee disability requiring a period of convalescence following an arthroscopy on June 2, 2010 is pending and will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a left knee disability and granted it based on continuity of symptoms since service separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his active duty service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling examinations, and considering the Veteran's claims.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing hypertension or diabetes, and the Veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome had its onset in service and is granted service connection. The Veteran withdrew his claim for chest disorder prior to a decision being made.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability did not manifest in service and does not have a nexus to his active duty. The left leg and knee disability is also not shown to be related to service or due to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee instability, and right knee limitation of flexion has been granted. The TDIU issue is part of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are service-connected. The right and left ankle disabilities have been remanded for further examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder and lower back disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and are not due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, cervical spine, right shoulder, and bilateral foot disabilities are all service-connected as they were incurred during his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining inpatient records and providing an addendum opinion from an orthopedist.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for burns to the hands, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a sleep disorder. The issues regarding back, right knee, right shoulder, left shoulder disorders, and left knee disorder were reconsidered but also denied on the merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and TDIU due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations, which were necessary to evaluate his reopened claim. The Veteran did not provide adequate notice of the regulation or demonstrate good cause for failing to report.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since October 19, 2010.