Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee arthritis is related to a pre-existing condition aggravated by service, and thus grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for respiratory, low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities are being REMANDED due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and adjudicating the TDIU claim. The issues of rating excess disability for left internal malleolus fracture and right knee osteoarthritis with scars are also pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, with separate ratings for degenerative arthritis and symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage. The claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent from January 29, 2009 for other impairment of the knee is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease, including whether a separate rating is warranted for instability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to a lack of medical examination opinions addressing the etiology of his current knee conditions, as well as for additional development of the record.

The Board has determined that the duty to assist the Veteran has not been fully met with regard to his claims for service connection for bilateral hip and knee disabilities. The case is being remanded for another VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between his current conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board has found that he should be granted separate ratings for noncompensable limitation of motion (flexion limited to 110 degrees or better and full extension) and slight instability.,For his right CTS, the Veteran's condition most nearly approximates incomplete paralysis of the major median nerve with no more than mild impairment. For his left CTS, it is also rated as having no more than mild impairment.,The Veteran's bilateral cortical cataracts are currently rated as noncompensable and do not meet criteria for a compensable rating.,PTSD has been granted service connection effective August 27, 2012. The Veteran's PTSD most nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with an occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder disorder and the increased rating claims regarding the knees. The Board also found that there is sufficient evidence to support service connection for left hip osteoarthritis and lumbar spine osteoarthritis.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for higher disability ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities are not service-connected as they are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability other than chondromalacia, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability. The Board found that these conditions did not manifest during or as a result of active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of aid and attendance, qualifying for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance. He is also entitled to a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing due to his permanent and total disability resulting from service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The claims of increased ratings and reopening of service connection for hypoglycemia are still pending.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for her left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling under DC 5010 for arthritis. The Board has found no evidence of ankylosis, recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, dislocation of semilunar cartilage, symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage, impairment of tibia and fibula, or genu recurvatum. Therefore, the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities do not warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for various disorders are granted, with the exception of his claim for a right ankle disorder which is secondary to service-connected peripheral neuropathy. The decision also includes reopening and granting service connection for tinnitus.