Knee Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, leaving only the issue of an increased rating for left knee disability in appellate status. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, left knee disability, and right knee disability based on new evidence submitted since the prior denial.,Service connection is granted for posttraumatic stress disorder as it is related to fear of hostile military activity during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and the obtaining of relevant medical records.

The Veteran's right knee pain with osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects her current functional impairment.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's ratings for his degenerative joint disease and right knee instability was proper, as there was material improvement in both conditions under ordinary circumstances.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed right shoulder, left knee, and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a low back condition and zygomatic arch fracture residuals were withdrawn. The Veteran was granted service connection for right elbow lateral epicondylitis, bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's claimed right shoulder, left leg/knee, and right leg disabilities. The claims for service connection were denied as there was insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing on his service connection claims and obtaining a VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral inguinal hernia.

The Veteran's retropatellar pain syndrome of the bilateral knees is related to service and service connection has been granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including his partial knee replacement surgery in September 2009, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has granted a temporary 100 percent evaluation for one year following the surgery.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ankle, hip, and knee disabilities are not causally or etiologically related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against the claims for service connection.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's knee disabilities, specifically whether they are related to his service-connected back disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no credible evidence of such in-service. The VA examinations provided opinions indicating these conditions are more likely related to post-service factors.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and his claims for service connection for right hip disability status post right hip arthroplasty and degenerative joint disease of the right knee have been dismissed.

The Veteran's right and left knees were evaluated for patellofemoral syndrome, but the VA determined that there was no evidence of limitation of motion or instability warranting a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected fracture of the left femur, arthritis of the left knee, and duodenal ulcer were denied. The fractures and arthritis are currently rated at 20 percent each.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome was granted, with a 10 percent evaluation assigned. Separate evaluations of 20 percent and 10 percent were also granted for subluxation as of July 18, 2012 and August 12, 2009 respectively. The Veteran's claim for painful motion of the left knee was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, to include as secondary to his right knee disability, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and an opinion regarding whether the right knee disability caused or aggravated the left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary service connection were denied. The RO found that the Veteran's right knee, left hip, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities are not shown to be related to his service-connected conditions.