Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury and initial disability ratings for PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between the Veteran's current right knee condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and left knee disabilities, claiming they are secondary to a service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence or authorize VA to obtain relevant records.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain, and to provide an opinion on whether there is 50 percent or better probability that the disorder was caused or permanently worsened by the Veteran's lumbosacral strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left leg, and low back disabilities are not related to his period of active military service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and increased the Veteran's disability rating to 70 percent effective March 23, 2009. The claim for higher ratings on other issues remains pending.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder and found that he has PTSD as related to his in-service stressors. Service connection is also granted for ischemic heart disease, presumed due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for his service-connected left knee fracture, chronic left quadriceps muscle strain, and chronic lumbosacral spine strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral foot disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and low back disorder are related to his active service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for headaches, claimed as migraine headaches, is granted. The remaining claims are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is granted. The appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for post-surgical complications of a total left knee arthroplasty is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a comprehensive examination to consider all of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their combined effect on his employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the reduction of his left knee disability rating was found to be improper. The Veteran did not have new and material evidence submitted to reopen several of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been partially granted, with some issues being granted while others are denied. The right knee disorder claim has been reopened but the merits of the reopened claim remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination of the right knee. The issue will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations and consideration of all service-connected disabilities in determining employability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee arthroplasty, is currently rated at 30 percent and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current low back, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities and his military service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent for instability and no higher. A separate rating of 10 percent based on limitation of motion has been granted, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to functional loss.