Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further development of his service connection claims, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying his periods of active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the right wrist disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The right knee and hip disorders did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has ordered the Veteran to be examined and for his Social Security Administration records to be obtained in order to determine if his current psychiatric disorder, specifically schizophrenia, is related to service. The right knee disability claim will also require an examination to assess whether it was incurred during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a left knee disorder, and a left leg disorder.,The effective date of denial is not specified in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed panic disorder with agoraphobia, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The right knee issue remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disorders were denied. However, a separate initial evaluation of 30 percent for severe instability of the left knee was granted beginning on June 25, 2008.,The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disorders have been rated as 10 percent disabling since September 29, 2003. A TTR rating has also been assigned in some periods.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, right knee limited extension, and right knee instability, have met the combined rating criteria for a TDIU as of July 9, 2010.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for her left knee and hip disabilities was denied. The RO granted a separate compensable rating for limited motion of the left hip, effective March 20, 2006.,The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for her left knee disability remain in appellate status.

The Veteran's appeal on the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for a left knee disability prior to September 10, 2009 and in excess of 10 percent from that date has been withdrawn by his attorney. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider this matter.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent for anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency, with a separate 10 percent rating for arthritis. The left knee disability is rated at 10 percent for the same conditions.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings for his service-connected conditions have been granted, with the exception of his claim for an increased rating for dyssomnia.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for cervical dorsal strain and service connection for low back disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability were denied. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right hip or right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and back disabilities, but denied service connection for right wrist disability. The Veteran's left knee condition is considered to have been aggravated by military service, while his back condition increased during service. His right wrist condition was not diagnosed at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and proper VCAA notice regarding the TDIU claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding the propriety of reducing the evaluation for hemorrhoids with secondary anemia, service connection for right knee sprain and residuals of right little finger fracture, and evaluation of thyroid nodule as the Veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No decision was made on the merits of any claims.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and right knee disability as there is no credible evidence of such conditions in service or since service. The Veteran's testimony regarding current symptoms was not found to be credible.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a right knee disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence supports the claim. The Veteran's current diagnosis is patellofemoral arthritis of the right knee, which is proximately due to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the issues of service connection for various conditions. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee was granted with an effective date of May 13, 2005. The claim for piriformis syndrome was also granted.