Knee Board decisions

The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for arthritis of the knees and ankles, as the Veteran's assertions were not supported by medical evidence. The June 1999 rating decision remains final.

The Veteran's knee conditions have been rated based on the severity of his symptoms and X-ray findings. The evaluations are granted for the periods specified.

The Veteran's right knee disability is already rated at the maximum schedular evaluation available for dislocated semilunar cartilage, and further increased rating is not warranted based on current evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and denied initial evaluations in excess of 30 percent and 60 percent for right shoulder disability, respectively. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that resulted in current disability.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as tinnitus, all of which were claimed to be related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The claims are not supported by current evidence or medical opinion.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee effective from June 14, 2012. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating was received on December 18, 2007, and it is factually ascertainable that his right knee instability existed more than one year prior to this date.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic bilateral knee disability that began during service or is otherwise related to service, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, which are secondary to his service-connected left or right ankle disabilities. The Board has not provided a clear decision on whether the knees were caused by or aggravated by the ankles.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease was denied as the evidence did not show flexion limited to 30 degrees or extension limited to 15 degrees, which would warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board finds that the Veteran's preexisting left knee condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to his military service, and was not aggravated by service. As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to an undeliverable SSOC, and the AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's current address and reissue the SSOC at that address.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine, right hip, and bilateral knee disabilities are not related to service.,Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and right knee disability was denied. The Board found that DM did not manifest during service, within one year of service, or is attributable to service exposure to herbicides. For the right knee issue, the Board noted insufficient evidence to establish a current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and left knee disorder are not related to his time in service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted, but his claims for low back disability and bilateral knee disability are denied.

The Veteran's diabetes and heart disorder are presumed to be related to his service due to herbicide exposure. The Board also finds that the Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain any form of substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, sleep apnea, and rhinitis. Service connection was denied for a right knee disorder and lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for PTSD, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left shoulder disability are denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD remains April 8, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a rating in excess of the currently assigned noncompensable or 10 percent disability ratings.