Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability. The right knee condition is not related to service or secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for left knee, right knee, and bilateral foot conditions as there was no new and material evidence received to reopen the claim for a left knee condition. The other issues were also denied on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA examination reports and relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and low back disorders, as well as increased evaluations for left and right shoulder bursitis with impingement syndrome, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection have been granted, but the effective dates remain October 5, 2004.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, specifically chondromalacia of the right and left knees with Osgood-Shlatter's Disease, are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected hip, knee and spine disabilities are causing significant occupational impairment. The RO is instructed to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his ability to work due to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, right knee, and left knee conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic degenerative joint disease of each knee, but denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings. The effective date remains August 30, 2001.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, determine the completeness of his service treatment records, and provide him with VA examinations for his claimed high blood pressure, stomach disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the grant of a 100 percent disability rating, including entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the thoracic spine is rated at 40 percent effective January 20, 2010. His left-knee and right-knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's left knee disability, prior to June 18, 2010, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on instability or subluxation. The total left knee replacement from June 18, 2010 through June 2011 warranted a 100% rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee, hip, ankle, and back disorders. The evidence did not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor proximately due to a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete service treatment records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine if his current right shoulder and left knee disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 10 percent for DJD and bursitis anserine, with a separate 10 percent rating for subluxation. The appeal is denied as the disability does not warrant higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an appropriate VA physician to review his claims file and provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that his service-connected disabilities alone render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claimed bilateral knee and low back disabilities were not incurred in service, and the Board finds that they are unrelated to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and vascular occlusive disease of bilateral lower extremities, as well as his claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee impairment (excluding symptoms of traumatic arthritis).