Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, headaches, and left knee scar were not rated higher than the current levels of 10 percent. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right or left knee disability related to service and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's initial rating for left ankle strain is granted at 10%, but the appeal for a higher rating or separate ratings for instability and lateral meniscus tear of the right knee is denied.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is rated at 10 percent, effective October 1, 2012. A separate rating of 20 percent for a large loose body resulting in locking prior to June 18, 2012, has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of right knee tendonitis was granted, with the effective date set at August 5, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left hip and right knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for the left hip disability prior to December 6, 2006, or for a rating in excess of 20 percent for the right knee disability prior to April 29, 2009. The effective date claim was not addressed as it was implicitly denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities. The reduction in rating of bilateral hearing loss from 100% to noncompensable effective June 1, 2008, was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to his service-connected back disability or pre-existed service. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to individual unemployability for further development, including a VA examination and an opinion regarding the combined effect of all service-connected disabilities on the Veteran's ability to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current neck disability is not etiologically related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection. The claims for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities are remanded due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities are not related to his service, as any pre-existing conditions were resolved in service. The VA examination reports concluded that the DJD of the knees is less likely caused by or a result of military service.,Service connection for both left and right knee arthritis was denied due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for postoperative residuals of right knee internal derangement is denied, as the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 20 percent. The claim for a higher rating for arthritis of the right knee from October 31, 2008 is also denied, as there is no evidence that warrants a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle/foot disabilities, both claimed as secondary to service-connected disability, were denied.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development in accordance with the Court's Memorandum Decision of November 2009. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right knee disability, residuals of a chest injury, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development, including a VA examination to address whether his right knee condition is related to or caused by his service-connected residuals of right ankle sprain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current neck, low back, and knee conditions are related to an in-service incident where he was thrown from a truck. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience.,The Veteran is entitled to an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches.,Service connection has been granted for chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to service-connected sarcoidosis. The Veteran's skin disorder is also service connected as secondary to service-connected sarcoidosis. Service connection has not been established for a respiratory disorder or sleep disturbance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disability and bilateral pigmentary glaucoma are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of outstanding records.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions. Other claims of service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to substantiate the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar strain and bilateral knee disabilities, including obtaining relevant medical records and verifying his periods of active duty.