Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right knee DJD was denied as there is no legal entitlement to such a date.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral knee disorder, finding no medical evidence linking these conditions to service.,Both the Veteran's current low back and knee disorders were first diagnosed many years after his separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is a direct result of injuries sustained during active duty, and thus service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, status-post TKR, is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee arthritis and right knee replacement, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has found the evidence in equipoise as to whether his service-connected conditions alone make him unemployable.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability did not have onset in service and was not caused or aggravated by his active military service. The VA examiner concluded that the current right knee disability is less likely related to his service activities, including his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating, on an extraschedular basis, for his service-connected right knee muscle injury.

The Veteran's right knee disability does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, as it does not result in limitation of motion to 45 degrees or less in flexion or 10 degrees or less in extension.

The Veteran's right knee replacement disability is currently rated at 30 percent, the minimum rating provided for a service-connected knee replacement. The evidence does not support an increase in his disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, high cholesterol, right knee disability, psychiatric disorder, cardiovascular disease, low back disability, osteoarthrosis, allergies, Peyronie's disease, and broken right foot were denied as there is no evidence of such conditions in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran did not have any cardiovascular issues during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings or earlier effective dates in several of her claims.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left knee disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active service. The case is being remanded to obtain an opinion regarding whether her pre-existing hypertension was aggravated during service, and for a determination on her right shoulder injury claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right arm and shoulder, left arm and shoulder, right hand and finger disorders as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for anoxic encephalopathy with residual impairment of cognitive and cerebral function. The appeals were not about service connection at all.

The VA denied the Veteran's claims for an increase in ratings for his low back disability and left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and his claim for a TDIU rating is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability did not meet the criteria for an extension of his temporary total convalescence rating beyond August 1, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee arthrosis is rated at 20 percent, and his service-connected left knee laxity is rated at 10 percent. The Veteran seeks higher ratings for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a left knee disability was granted with an effective date of January 27, 2005. The Board finds no earlier effective date is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent initial disability rating for the service-connected left knee scars, effective December 4, 2008. The claim for an increased (compensable) initial rating for constrictive bronchiolitis is remanded.