Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected right knee dislocation and arthritis have been granted increased ratings, with the right patella rated at 20 percent disabling and the arthritis rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed bilateral heel stress fractures and related disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling due to painful motion and X-ray evidence of arthritis. The preponderance of the competent and credible evidence does not support a higher rating based on instability or limitation of motion.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right knee disability, including osteoarthritis. The claim is being remanded to verify the dates of active duty for training and inactive duty for training (ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA) and to obtain a VA examination to determine if any current right knee disability had its clinical onset during ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA, or is the result of an in-service disease or injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar spine disability, arthritis of the left knee and hands, hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), sleep apnea, and gastrointestinal disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left knee and shoulder disabilities have been granted, with a combined rating of 60 percent. The TDIU claim is pending.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, addictive behavior, and depression. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected post-operative internal derangement of the right knee is not manifested by severe recurrent subluxation and/or lateral instability, warranting a rating no higher than 20 percent. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent are met for arthritis of the right knee associated with post-operative internal derangement of the right knee from July 2, 2008 to October 31, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include major depressive disorder and multiple joint issues, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 1, 2008. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU effective from this date.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied, with the exception of a temporary total disability rating granted in August 2008. The remaining claims are still pending and have been remanded to the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee strain with degenerative joint disease, right knee strain with degenerative joint disease, bilateral hip strains, and arthritis of the back were not incurred or aggravated during service. The claims are denied.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, sling palsy, and residuals of trauma to the left side of the waist due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claimed bilateral knee disability was not diagnosed until many years after service, and there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to his active duty service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current arthritis of the left knee is not related to his active service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement was rated at 30 percent from August 1, 2004 to March 25, 2009. The Board has determined that the condition more nearly approximates a rating of 60 percent for this period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities, as well as his lumbar spine disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee, left knee, and left shoulder are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings and TDIU. Service connection for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.