Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is related to service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations and the criteria for each condition. The initial ratings assigned are generally in line with the severity of his conditions.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, schizophrenia (claimed as chronic acquired psychiatric disorder), and a left knee disorder due to the preponderance of evidence not showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his postoperative torn medial meniscus and degenerative joint disease, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for the service-connected postoperative torn medial meniscus from June 11, 2003 to September 28, 2006. The claim for an increased evaluation for residuals of total right knee arthroplasty is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate notice provided to the appellant regarding service connection for a left knee disability. The claim will be reconsidered and appropriate notice must be given.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA examination of the left knee. The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically his left knee chondromalacia with medial collateral ligament instability and right knee chondromalacia, are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds that the current evaluations adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is currently rated as noncompensable due to the lack of evidence showing limitation of motion that would warrant a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a higher evaluation of his right knee sprain, and the claim to reopen his right wrist disability was also denied. The Board found that he did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating based on current evidence of record.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left knee disorder and diabetes mellitus, type 2. The appeal is currently in remand status due to the need for additional development including obtaining Social Security records, VA outpatient records, and medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, bilateral knee, and left shoulder disabilities are not related to his military service. The evidence shows multiple post-service injuries as the cause of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and issues with development of evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being reviewed, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disorders are not related to service, as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease. The current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA laws.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic left knee disorder, to include as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability was denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for ingrown toe nails on both feet was denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of the condition being incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board finds that there is no evidence of a left knee disability or back strain related to service. The Veteran's current conditions are not shown to be causally connected to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, traumatic thoracolumbar spine contusion with residual degenerative disc disease with associated low back pain, and left knee with patella and anterior cruciate ligament strain, all of which represents a complete grant of the benefits sought on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as there was no claim for service connection for PTSD prior to October 6, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left knee disability, right knee arthritis, and lumbosacral strain with spondylosis at L5-S1 are not rated higher than the current 20 percent, 10 percent, and 20 percent respectively.