Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee subluxation and other conditions, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues listed on the title page of this decision, indicating he now understands the VA system and wishes to withdraw these claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability and granted service connection for a right shoulder rotator cuff tear with tendinopathy.,Service connection was also granted for a right knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination to determine if any additional disabilities were caused or aggravated by a fall on June 9, 2008.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including posttraumatic arthritis and instability, is currently rated at 20 percent. The issue of secondary service connection for a low back condition remains unresolved.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a knee disorder and granted it. The psychiatric disorder and sleep disorder claims were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination regarding his back disability and an SOC on the increased rating claim for left knee disability. The issues of service connection for a back disability and initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability are being addressed.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals regarding the increased ratings for PTSD, retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee, and residuals of a right knee injury. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee with ACL deficiency and arthritis, finding that the current evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent disabling effective November 29, 2011. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder other than the service-connected scar was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are directly related to her active duty service, thus granting her claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's post-operative residuals of bilateral total knee replacements are causally related to military service, and thus grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development of records, including from the VA Medical Center in Albany and treatment at the Bainbridge Naval Base and aboard the USS Oriskany. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of his left knee and right shoulder disabilities, as the competent and credible evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records related to the Veteran's right knee disability. The issue of service connection for a right knee disability will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right knee degenerative joint disease and instability were denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 21, 2011, or more than 20 percent from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not service connected, as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in service. The Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service but does not have a presumptive condition related to such exposure. Additionally, there is insufficient medical evidence linking any current knee disability to active duty.

The Board denied all issues on appeal, including service connection for depression, dental trauma, bilateral foot disability, and back disability. The Veteran's right total knee arthroplasty was rated at 30 percent from July 1, 2009, and the left knee arthritis/patellar tendonitis was rated at 10 percent.