Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral leg and knee conditions are found to be related to his military service, with the psychiatric condition stemming from depression in service and the knee issues likely pre-existing or not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has determined that a chronic bilateral knee disability was not manifest during active service and is not shown to have developed as a result of an established event, injury, or disease during active service. The Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection must be denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right knee disability and an increased evaluation for his left knee disability have been denied due to failure to report for VA examinations. The Veteran has not provided good cause for missing the scheduled exams.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 60 percent effective May 2, 2002. The left knee disability remains rated at 30 percent overall.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral osteoarthritis is related to his active service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability pre-existed his service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot, ankle, knee, and low back disorders are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show a connection between these conditions and his active duty.

The Veteran's left knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and tinnitus are all found to be service-connected. The Veteran's gastritis is also found to be service-connected. However, the Veteran's bump on the inside of the rectum and lump on the testicles do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and individual unemployability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as residuals of a burn injury to his right hand. The evidence supports that these conditions are related to injuries sustained during periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 20 percent, which represents the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest possible level of disability, with a rating of 70 percent. The left knee ACL tear and menisci tears are each rated at their maximum levels (20% for ACL tear and 10% for menisci tears). CFS is also rated at its maximum level (40%).

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed left and right knee disabilities are related to his service-connected left ankle disability, as they have been aggravated by it. The evidence supports this conclusion.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the hands, feet, legs (knees), shoulders, ankles, and cervical and lumbar spine segments.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent for the period from June 8, 2009 to April 4, 2011. The rating was increased based on limitation of flexion and extension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities do not warrant a higher rating as her range of motion is within normal limits and there are no additional limitations due to pain, weakness, or instability.

The appellant requested the withdrawal of his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee strain and left foot strain, which has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of VA examination report, and the Veteran should be scheduled for another VA orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is manifested by x-ray findings of arthritis with some limitation of motion, pain and complaints of stiffness, swelling, and tenderness. The Board finds that the criteria for entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent have not been met.