Knee Board decisions

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent for service-connected right knee internal derangement with degenerative joint disease prior to February 1, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's heart disability is not service-connected, but the claim to reopen his arthritis of the right knee has been granted. The Board found that new evidence supports reopening the claim for arthritis of the right knee.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 50%, the gunshot wounds to the left thigh and right lower extremity disabilities were both rated at 20% each, and the fascial defect of the left thigh with muscle herniation was rated at 30%. No extra-schedular rating or reopening on new evidence was granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of pneumonia and granted it. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a Travel Board Hearing at the RO. The issues of service connection for various disorders are still under consideration.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for a knee disability, finding no evidence of an in-service event or injury related to the Veteran's knees. The decision also noted that the earliest post-service medical evidence showing a knee disability was dated over eight years after separation from his first period of active duty.

The Board found that the reduction in the disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected right knee injury residuals from 30 percent to 10 percent was proper based on improvement shown in his condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted service connection as a direct result of complaints he had during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an equipment malfunction during a scheduled videoconference hearing, and the Veteran's representative requested a Travel Board hearing instead. The case is now pending for scheduling of this hearing.

The Board dismissed the claims as they were not timely filed, and thus did not have jurisdiction to review them.

The Board found that the Veteran's back, feet, and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiner opined that there was less than a 50% probability that these conditions were caused by events or injuries during service.

The Board is remanding the claims for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and clarifying representation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right leg/knee injury was denied, but he is now granted service connection for a psychiatric disability. His migraine headaches are currently rated at 50 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are related to his active military service. The benefit of the doubt is resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by laxity and retropatellar pain syndrome, warrants a 20 percent rating for lateral instability or recurrent subluxation. A separate 20 percent rating is also assigned for locking, pain, and effusion into the joint.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee and right femur disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.