Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since the initial grant of service connection, and no higher rating is warranted for any period on appeal.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and limitation of motion, has been granted a 10 percent rating since February 1, 2004.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's right hip disability is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including right shoulder, low back, and right leg disabilities. The claims were previously denied on the merits due to lack of evidence linking current conditions to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether his brain tumor qualifies for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right elbow, left elbow tendinitis, right shoulder bursitis, left shoulder disability, bilateral knee chondromalacia, bilateral wrist disability, right ankle disability, left ankle tendinitis, and low back disability have all been granted.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for postoperative residuals of a left knee injury with degenerative joint disease and chondrocalcinosis was denied as the evidence did not show improvement warranting a higher rating. The RO reduced his rating from 20 to 10 percent effective July 1, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial compensable rating were denied. The left knee conditions are rated at the maximum available, while the eye condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current severity of his right knee, epididymitis, and tinea conditions. The RO/AMC will also consider whether there are any new or material pieces of evidence that could reopen his service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of lumbosacral degenerative disc disease with left leg pain, and service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, sinus disorder, and lung disorder (claimed as tuberculosis and chronic chest pain) were denied. The Veteran was not granted an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his lumbosacral degenerative disc disease with left leg pain prior to October 29, 2009, or a rating in excess of 40 percent since that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, a bilateral knee condition, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low back pain, and migraine headaches, have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrences that would support the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed bilateral shoulder and knee disorders, which may be related to his service-connected gunshot wound residuals. The Veteran needs to undergo VA examinations for these conditions.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the increased disability rating for service-connected right knee chondromalacia patella.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that service connection was established but not granted for certain conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosed bilateral knee disorder is not related to his period of service and denied both his claim for service connection and his request for a compensable evaluation for left foot disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease. The right leg disability is considered part of the right knee disability and not separately service connected. Service connection was denied for bilateral foot and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO via video conference.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for proper notification and a VA examination.