Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right femur fracture and subsequent knee arthroplasty resulted in a 60% evaluation from November 1, 2010. Prior to September 8, 2009, the Veteran was rated at 30%. The decision is granted for both periods.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, left knee disability, and cephalgia are related to service. The Veteran's current disabilities were not caused by military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions listed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee strain and assigned a rating of 10 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's right ankle strain is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination for his right knee disorder, an increased rating for hepatitis C, and TDIU consideration. The Veteran must be provided with VCAA notice regarding the TDIU element of his claim.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right knee disorder that is secondary to his service-connected left knee retropatellar pain syndrome. The case is being remanded for further development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 30 percent for her right knee disability was denied. The RO increased the rating to 30 percent effective August 25, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disability, urinary incontinence, dyshidrotic eczema, and osteoarthritis of the right knee were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions regarding her dental disability or her claim for urinary incontinence. For dyshidrotic eczema, the Board noted that there was no demonstration by medical or lay evidence of record of a current disability requiring systemic therapy. For osteoarthritis of the right knee, the Board found slight limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his symptoms do not warrant such an increase.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The RO has granted a separate disability rating of 30 percent for limitation of extension between October 3, 2009 and December 2, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service or any incident thereof, and thus cannot be granted service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right knee disorder and finds that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The evidence supports this finding, including VA treatment records indicating degenerative changes in the right knee.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since August 1, 2006. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board denied increased ratings for major depressive disorder and dysthymia, chronic low back pain secondary to lumbosacral strain, and left knee patellar tendonitis and patellofemoral stress syndrome. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is pending.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by meniscus abnormality with episodes of locking and effusions into the joint, is currently rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5260. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding residuals of a gunshot wound to the right knee, and did not meet criteria for initial evaluations in excess of certain percentages for left knee conditions or right total knee replacement (TKR).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The skin disorder issue is pending as part of a separate remand.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling appropriate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left knee condition is rated at 10 percent, while the lumbosacral spine disability was rated as 20 percent from July 15, 2008 to January 7, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant's request for withdrawal prior to a decision being made.