Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current psychiatric and right knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The acquired psychiatric disorder was not related to his period of active service, nor is it etiologically linked to any incident during service. Similarly, there is no evidence linking the right knee disability to service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disorder resulted in episodes of locking, pain, and effusion prior to December 4, 2007. However, the disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied, except for the left knee instability claim which was granted. The right flank disability remains at a noncompensable rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability, but further development is needed before the claim can be decided on its merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including urinary incontinence, spinal stenosis, anxiety disorder, and others, have prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The case is being remanded for further development and review of the claims, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and SSA disability benefit documents.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability was granted, with a 60 percent rating effective July 1, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees and a back disability, to include as due to degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knees in June 2006. The moving party's motion alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE) was denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post total knee replacement, is manifested by chronic and severe pain in the left leg. The Board finds that a maximum schedular evaluation of 60 percent for total left knee replacement has been met.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent for instability, with separate ratings of 50 percent for limitation of extension since February 15, 2012. The effective date for the increased rating and scars has been set at September 2, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and requesting an addendum to the December 2010 VA joints examination report.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his right knee disability has been withdrawn. The Board also dismissed the issue of entitlement to a higher rating for his left knee degenerative joint disease as there is no evidence showing that his right knee disability meets or approximates the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability ratings for bilateral pes planus, chondromalacia of the right knee, and degenerative changes of the right knee from 30%, 10%, and 10% to 10%, 0%, and 0% respectively was not proper due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right wrist disorder, lumbar and cervical spine conditions, and other issues, have been granted. The effective date for the increased ratings is February 2002.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and finds that the evidence is in equipoise, granting service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle and right knee disorders are not related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral hips and knees, as well as multiple joint disability other than the bilateral hips and knees. The Veteran's complaints were not shown to be related to his military service or due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and arranging a VA examination to determine if the Veteran is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for myofascial pain syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, bilateral knee disability, hypertension, chronic sinusitis, and degenerative joint disease/degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine are all denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.