Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, lower back disorder, and right knee disorder are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, joint pain, and skin rashes is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service. The exposure basis is presumed herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his right knee disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to November 7, 2009 or in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for updated examinations of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the appellant's periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and/or Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA), specifically when any knee or right ankle injuries occurred. The case is REMANDED for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's currently-diagnosed psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and left knee patellar chondromalacia. The conditions are linked to his in-service injury and permanent aggravation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including arthritis and Osgood Schlatter's disease, is not related to his service or any event/injury therein. The pre-existing condition worsened during service but was not aggravated.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's headaches to his service or a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity swelling was not considered a disability for VA purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran did not require continued convalescence beyond August 1, 2006 following his right knee surgery and denied his claim for an extension of a temporary total rating.

The Veteran does not have a current right knee disorder or arthritis that is related to his military service, including by way of a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 100%, meeting the percentage requirements for a TDIU. However, the weight of medical opinion and other evidence indicates that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ankle and bilateral knee osteoarthritis were not incurred or aggravated during his National Guard service, and thus denied the claims for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disorder did not have its onset during his active military service and is not related to any period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA. Therefore, service connection for a right knee disorder was denied.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability before May 7, 2004 was denied as there is no credible evidence showing he could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional left knee disability as a result of VA medical treatment involving two total knee arthroplasty surgeries in April 2005 and February 2007. The case has been remanded to obtain additional records, conduct an examination, and determine if the Veteran's current condition is related to the VA treatment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of various knee, foot, and elbow conditions have been granted.,However, the initial evaluations assigned are less than what was requested in some cases.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The initial disability ratings for her service-connected right and left knee disabilities, as well as the scar from her cesarean section, remain at noncompensable levels.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been rated based on arthritis, but not for instability. The claims for increased ratings are denied as the evidence does not show that the current disability levels meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.