Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee disability, including DJD and meniscus tears, is rated at 10 percent disabling. The temporary total rating for convalescence due to the knee condition has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, secondary to his service-connected right patella chondromalacia, was reopened and granted. His current rating for chondromalacia of the right patella is increased to 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn, and his claims for diabetes mellitus and weight control problems or obesity have not met the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for a bilateral hip disability and her right knee patellofemoral syndrome is less likely than not incurred in or caused by active duty service. The claim for secondary service connection was also denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the service-connected pubic ramus stress fractures with residual pubic symphysis and the current right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral pes planus was denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claims for service connection for scars of the elbows and knees and recurrent neck pain were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his claims, including those related to TBI, back disability, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a right knee disability was denied as there is no current evidence of such a condition.,New and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for left shoulder, upper back, and right great toe disabilities.,Service connection for an upper back disability was previously denied due to lack of evidence of a chronic disability at the time of the April 2003 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the evaluation of the Veteran's bilateral knee scars from 10 percent to noncompensable was proper based on sustained improvement under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination of his right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the issues of bilateral hearing loss, bilateral wrist disability, sleep apnea, and residuals of meningitis has been withdrawn.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus clearly and unmistakably pre-existed active duty service and was not incurred or aggravated by such service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected left knee disability, including whether it is manifested by lateral instability. The issues on appeal are related to separate compensable ratings for left and right knee instability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination of his right knee and because the initial rating assigned for PTSD needs to be addressed. The issue of TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's hammertoe of the right second toe is related to service.,The Veteran's shoulder and knee disabilities are not related to service or any service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claimed bladder or bowel dysfunction is not related to his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and missing records. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a left knee impact fracture, dislocation, and meniscal tear is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted. The issue of entitlement to service connection remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at least 70 percent since February 3, 2009. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU rating effective from February 3, 2009.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as extraction of teeth. However, the specific nature of these connections remains unclear due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's urinary incontinence is rated at 40 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating of 60 percent based on his need to change absorbent materials more than four times per day due to urine leakage.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee and foot conditions and lumbar spine disability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of June 24, 2011.