Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosed right knee disorder (iliotibial band syndrome) is not related to his period of service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sinusitis, an initial rating greater than 30 percent for status-post liver transplant with hepatitis C, and earlier effective dates for scar residuals of a liver transplant. The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities in January 2009 but did not request earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's left knee strain with degenerative changes and left knee instability are currently rated at 20 percent, effective June 21, 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities do not warrant a disability rating higher than 10 percent, as there is no evidence of limitation of motion or degenerative arthritis in either knee joint.

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

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral knee and ankle disabilities are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show any complaints or treatment for these conditions during service, and there is no medical opinion linking them to service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left knee disability and an increased evaluation for his right knee disability. The case is being remanded to obtain updated treatment records, schedule the Veteran for examinations, and determine if his current conditions are related to military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims can be decided, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records. The Veteran will also need to undergo additional examinations for his right knee disability and adjustment disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung disability (bronchitis) is not related to service, but reopened her claims for lumbosacral spine and bilateral knee disabilities due to new evidence. The claim for bilateral foot disability was also reopened.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as his request for a TDIU. The issues of reduction in rating were found to have been properly processed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities of arthritis of the bilateral knees and ankles, and a herniated disc of the lumbar spine are not related to his period of active military service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including associating the Veteran's clinical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected right thigh muscle hernia is rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 5313 for severe muscle damage.

The Board found no in-service injury or disease related to the Veteran's right knee and skin disabilities, and thus denied service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for traumatic arthritis of the left knee was denied as his range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of frostbite of both feet, early DJD of the right knee, early DJD of bilateral ankles, and DDD at L5-S1 with spondylosis. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their current functional impairment, with the highest possible ratings granted for each knee.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for additional development to determine its etiology and whether it was incurred or aggravated during his service.

The Board has restored service connection for postoperative right knee injury residuals effective February 1, 2007. The original decision to sever this condition from service connection was found to be clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board has granted a combined rating of 60 percent for the Veteran's right knee disabilities, with an increased rating to 40 percent for internal derangement right knee with partial ankylosis and a separate 20 percent rating for traumatic arthritis right knee.