Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities, including degenerative joint disease, were not related to his service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis of the knees, but denied service connection for a cardiac disorder. The Veteran's current diagnoses are in equipoise with respect to whether they are aggravated by his service-connected bipolar disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The issues on appeal include increased evaluations for knee conditions and service connection for a right hand fracture, among others.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded a second opportunity to attend a VA examination due to her absence from the previous one. Additionally, all outstanding treatment notes from the Dublin VAMC and Atlanta VAMC are requested.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the receipt of additional relevant treatment evidence and the need for a VA examination to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since December 25, 2008. He is granted a TDIU based solely on his PTSD and also qualifies for SMC at the housebound rate effective December 25, 2008.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral avascular necrosis of the hips, and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's current conditions are considered to be related to her in-service injuries and subsequent treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for a right shoulder disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease based on continuity of symptoms since service separation. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for his left shoulder strain is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 17, 2009, for the resumption of payment of disability compensation following a period of active duty is denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a formal or informal claim to reinstate his benefits prior to 2010 and thus the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left knee disability or chronic back disability related to service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease has been evaluated at a 10 percent rating since the grant of service connection. The current evaluation is appropriate as his range of motion does not meet criteria for higher ratings due to limitation of flexion or extension.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 30% effective July 13, 2012. The Board denied a higher rating based on the severity of symptoms and impairment during this period.

The Veteran's left knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, but his lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy were granted increased evaluations effective August 12, 2013.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the functional impairment caused by his service-connected disabilities and for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder (claimed stomach disability) has been reopened and is granted. Service connection is also granted for sinusitis, bilateral lower extremity arthritis as secondary to service-connected disability, left upper extremity arthritis as secondary to service-connected disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee disorder that is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and clarification of functional loss during flare-ups. The issue remains whether an increased rating beyond 20 percent is warranted for his left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected knee, shoulder, lumbar spine, elbow, and carpal tunnel disabilities have been granted initial compensable ratings. The effective dates for these ratings are not specified.