Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no right hip disability, but noted marked hip disability in the left hip with pain. For the knee issues, slight instability was noted without moderate instability.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia patella is currently rated at 10 percent, reflecting painful limitation of flexion without other significant functional impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder and depression) are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed hip, knee, and ankle disabilities are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board finds that the Veteran's actions and employment activities preponderate against his claim, and are more probative than the favorable medical evidence and lay testimony of the Veteran and his spouse. The claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left ankle disability and denied his claim for service connection. For the left knee disorder, the Board found no direct service connection due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee, leg, hip, right hip, and right knee disabilities did not have onset in service. The preexisting left knee condition was determined to be less likely than not related to an injury during service.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected conditions is 80%, which meets the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU. However, the weight of the evidence indicates that these disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that elevated blood pressure readings in active service are related to current hypertension. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected left knee disability is addressed separately.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received, but is not reopening the claims as they are still considered based on the merits. The Veteran's current complaints of neurological impairment in his left upper extremity have not been substantiated by medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and for obtaining additional VA medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right and left knee osteoarthritis were denied as the evidence did not show that they warranted a higher rating.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized as patellofemoral syndrome, has not met the criteria for a higher rating based on flexion or extension limitations. The current 10 percent evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's right knee strain with degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent, effective September 16, 2013. The evidence shows painful but noncompensable loss of motion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical examinations and records, as well as to verify the Veteran's current address. The issues of service connection for a back disability, right knee condition, and bilateral foot condition are pending.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, osteoarthritis of the elbows, thoracolumbar spine disorder, right knee condition, and left knee disorder. The decision found no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions that was incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee. However, due to an in-service right knee injury and its potential impact on the left knee, the issue is being remanded to first address the right knee claim before considering the left knee.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorder had its onset in service or is related to her service. The Veteran's claims file should be provided to another appropriate examiner for review.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disabilities and assigned an initial noncompensable rating. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by pain, limitation of motion, moderate instability, and X-ray evidence of degenerative joint disease, warrants a combined rating of 30 percent.