Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The psychiatric disability claim will be remanded as it was not addressed in the original decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right knee, left knee, and left ankle disorders are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The right knee disability, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability are currently rated at 20%, 10%, and 10% respectively.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective February 17, 2007. He was granted separate ratings for instability and arthritis of the right knee.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than October 11, 2007 for a 20 percent rating for his left knee disability and for a rating in excess of 20 percent. The Board found that there was no medical evidence between October 11, 2006 and October 11, 2007 making it factually ascertainable that the Veteran's left knee disability was 20 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is being evaluated based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for compliance with VCAA requirements and to adjudicate the claim on its merits.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a supplemental opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected right thigh disability and other disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and an increased rating for her right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between her current disabilities and her active or inactive military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of reopening claims for left shoulder and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining consent forms and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee and left hip disabilities as well as his claims of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, PTSD, two facial scars, left and right knee conditions, and neuropathy of the upper extremities, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board finds that his TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his service-connected right and left foot disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition as secondary.

The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected left knee disabilities, which are rated at 50% and result in unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in rating for residuals of left knee arthroscopy with arthritis or a separate evaluation for synovitis, right knee.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a left leg disorder and a higher rating for his right knee degenerative arthritis were both denied by the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip, left hip (previously total hip replacement), and lumbar spine disabilities are related to his military service. The left knee disability is also found to be related to service. Left IT band syndrome is considered proximately due to or the result of a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected low back strain with scoliosis, left knee disability, and major depression.