Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis and instability were found to warrant a 10 percent disability rating prior to April 2, 2002.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability and shortening of the right leg are not related to service, and denied claims for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety is currently rated at 30% from March 19, 2009. The Veteran also has a current rating of 10% for her patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee with minimal degenerative joint disease of both knees.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, finding that it was not caused by or aggravated during his period of service and is unrelated to any service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right knee disability and determine if he has a current left knee disability related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, unclear nature of his claimed conditions, and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis), is currently rated at 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has granted an extension of the temporary total rating for service-connected status post tear of the medial meniscus of the left knee to January 20, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to an injury or disease in service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee meniscal injury residuals, status post arthroscopic repair are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea was found to have its onset during his active military service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The right knee disability issues were not addressed in detail due to the remand instructions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his left knee DJD and limitation of extension, finding no basis to grant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent under any applicable rating codes.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of arthritis in his knees or left ankle, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's right femur fracture, knee, and hip disabilities have been rated based on their combined effect. The rating of 10 percent has been maintained for the postoperative residuals of a right femur fracture with shortening of the right extremity since February 2, 2004. Separate ratings of 10 percent each have been assigned for the right knee and hip disabilities effective February 2, 2004.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and dismissed the claim for DIC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to schedule VA examinations for the right ring finger disability and residual scar, right ring finger.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions warranted a rating higher than 10 percent.