Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability was denied as the current 20% rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee condition and left shoulder condition.

The Veteran's arthritis of the right knee is rated at 10 percent, and his scars are rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that a separate rating for instability warrants a 10 percent evaluation from February 2010.

The Board found no evidence of chronic hepatitis C symptoms during service or continuous symptoms since separation, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, bilateral knee disorder, back disorder, and eye disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic and degenerative changes of the left knee is being remanded due to inadequate VCAA notice, need for additional medical records, and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is found to be caused by a service-connected left knee disability. The reduction from 40 percent to 30 percent for the right ankle disability as of September 1, 2010 is granted.,Prior to September 1, 2010, the Veteran was service-connected for multiple disabilities including his right ankle and left knee disabilities, which rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's right knee strain did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation between May 23, 2000 and January 29, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chondromalacia of the right knee began during her military service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board found no current left knee disability and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The issue of bilateral pes planus is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of his service-connected disabilities in conjunction with other factors such as his employment history. The case will be returned to the Board after this additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left hip and knee disabilities are related to his service-connected low back disability and/or radiculitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim of service connection for a left knee disorder. The Veteran's appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected right wrist disorder, left knee disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and residuals of a right ankle sprain have been denied. The Veteran is not entitled to an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine due to lack of limitation of motion or ankylosis. His claims for increased evaluations are also denied as there were no incapacitating episodes during the pendency of this appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left knee and right ankle disabilities, finding that the current 10 percent ratings adequately compensated him for his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability warrants a rating of 20 percent, and his left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is due to disease or injury incurred during active service, and thus grants service connection for a left knee disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, but denied them on the merits. The evidence submitted was found to be cumulative and not new or material.

The Board has granted service connection for a mood disorder secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability. The claim for an increased rating for the service-connected back disability is also granted.