Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and knee disabilities will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbago, a baker's cyst of the right knee, and a right testicular condition were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty or any period of ACDUTRA.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, a neck disability, and hypertension as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims. The Board also found that there is no medical evidence linking these disabilities to active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, and his PTSD rating was increased to 100% effective October 7, 2010. His patellofemoral syndrome with chondromalacia of the right knee remains at a 10% rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records, conduct a contemporaneous VA examination for his bilateral knee disabilities, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service. The Board also noted that the vertigo claim could not be decided without additional examination.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, characterized by severe degenerative joint disease and healed patellar fracture residuals, is productive of limited motion with an additional function loss due to pain and following repetitive movement that more nearly approximates flexion restricted to 15 degrees.

Your claim for service connection for residuals of a right femur fracture has been dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for right hip bursitis. Your claim for service connection for right knee arthritis remains denied.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 100%, which meets the criteria for a TDIU rating. The evidence shows that his service-connected conditions have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TDIU rating was granted effective January 14, 2009. The Board denied an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development due to a VLJ's departure and the Veteran's request for another hearing.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since March 2, 2012 for limitation of extension. The appeal is granted.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for instability of the right knee, effective from the date of the December 2011 VA examination. The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and DEA eligibility during the period from March 28, 2004 to March 27, 2005 was denied as he had marginal employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and higher initial ratings for retinosa pigmentosa. The Veteran was not shown to have a left knee disorder related to his military service, and the VA examinations did not support an increase in the rating for retinosa pigmentosa.

The Veteran's appeals of increased rating for diabetic retinopathy, service connection for low back disability, and service connection for right knee disability have been withdrawn by his representative.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of bilateral hearing loss. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's left knee condition is found to have had its clinical onset during his period of active service, and the Board grants service connection for this disability. The other issues remain pending.