Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran not being afforded a hearing before a member of the Board. The appeal is now pending and will be scheduled for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the origin of his left knee disorder and the severity of his service-connected arthritis of the right knee, including whether there is aggravation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening his previously denied claim of service connection for arthritis of the left ankle and for an increased rating for traumatic arthritis of the left knee. The Veteran was not granted any benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling him for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left leg disabilities are related to service, with osteoarthritis of both knees being a residual of an injury during active military service. The Veteran's left knee disability was caused or aggravated by his right knee disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral knee arthritis did not manifest during active service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking his current condition to service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent effective April 7, 2009 for frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint. The Veteran's left ankle disability has been manifested by moderate limitation of motion throughout the appeal period. The Veteran's service-connected headaches are currently rated at 30 percent.,The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his left knee or left ankle disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities are not related to service and denied both his claim for service connection and his request for an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee conditions, diagnosed as internal derangement with knee strain, warrant a 10 percent disability rating since October 11, 2012. The ratings are based on degenerative arthritis of one major joint without incapacitating episodes and removal of semilunar cartilage.

The Veteran's irritable bowel syndrome is currently rated at 30 percent, effective prior to April 3, 2013. After this date, the highest schedular rating available for his condition has been assigned.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current right knee, lumbar spine, and right leg disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is manifested by arthritis with mild instability, but no compensable limitation of flexion or extension. The RO has already assigned the maximum available rating for his patellofemoral arthritis and instability.

The Veteran's right knee disability was evaluated as 10 percent prior to January 12, 2010 and 30 percent as of March 1, 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of these ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, diagnosed as strain and degenerative joint disease, is related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to make him unemployable, and the Board grants entitlement to TDIU.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left leg disabilities, including arthritis of the left knee and associated meniscal issues, were not incurred in service. The evidence does not show chronic symptoms during service or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for left and right knee disabilities prior to February 22, 2013 are denied as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate opinions from the VA examiner and the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has ordered a VA examination due to the Veteran's failure to report for an initial one. The case is now being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, claimed as residuals of a right knee strain, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.