Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the Veteran's eligibility for service connection of his bilateral knee disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. However, his claim for a higher rating for DJD of the right knee remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including shortness of breath and chest pain, a psychiatric disability, headaches, and knee disabilities are denied as there is no competent evidence of current diagnoses or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and ACL tear, has been rated based on the residuals of a total knee replacement since September 1, 2009. The current rating is for pain and limited motion.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is currently manifested by pain and minimal limitation of motion, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as her symptoms do not warrant an increase in disability beyond the current 10 percent assigned.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further review of the evidence by the agency of original jurisdiction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee arthritis and nose disability are not service-connected due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 7, 2004 for the grant of service connection for right knee osteoarthropathy and lumbar spondylosis were denied as there was no evidence showing entitlement arose before that date.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including right and left knee disabilities, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability. The evaluations for her scar disabilities were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with the right knee meniscal repair receiving a 20 percent rating from July 8, 2007 to September 1, 2009. The other conditions received their respective initial disability ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess the degree of impairment due to his service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome. The issues on appeal are an increased evaluation for his right knee disability and entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's left knee disorder, prior to July 23, 2008, warrants a 10 percent rating based on limitation of motion. From July 23, 2008, the Veteran is rated at 10 percent for her left knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his low back and bilateral knee disabilities were denied. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of the assigned ratings were not met.

The Veteran's death was found to be caused by service-connected disabilities, specifically arthritis of the right knee and a total left knee replacement. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as the cause of death has been established.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for her left knee disability was denied. The current evaluation of 10% for limitation of motion and a separate 10% evaluation for instability are not higher than what is currently assigned.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including severe degenerative changes and pain throughout his range of motion, did not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent for the period from November 14, 2005 through June 8, 2008. For the periods prior to that time, the Veteran's right knee disability was productive of no more than moderate impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder has been granted, and he is now receiving a rating of 100%.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right knee strain was granted a noncompensable rating from April 29, 2003 to December 12, 2008 and a compensable rating of 10 percent thereafter. The lumbar spine strain was granted an initial disability rating of 20 percent effective April 23, 2003.