Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, to include on a secondary basis to his right knee disability, is granted. The Veteran also has been awarded an increased initial rating of 30 percent for his right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, and the Board finds that there is no evidence to support a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Veteran's post-operative right knee disability was granted a 10 percent evaluation effective September 30, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and right shoulder disorders were aggravated by service, warranting service connection.,A current back disorder was not incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder, but denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and bilateral hip disorder. The Veteran's current left knee disorder is related to his service-connected right knee disability. However, the evidence does not support a finding of an in-service injury or disease for his lumbar spine and bilateral hip disorders.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis and gunshot wound scar of the left calf are currently rated at their maximum levels, with no additional compensation available.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to failure to comply with a previous remand order. The Veteran's claims of service connection for varicose veins and bilateral knee disorders are pending.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability, which is more severe than the current 10 percent rating. The increased rating is effective from the date of the claim.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities, including post-operative right medial meniscus bucket handle tear with ACL tear and traumatic arthritis, are currently rated at 30 percent for the former condition and 10 percent for the latter. The increased ratings have been granted.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee disorder related to military service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability is not related to and was not caused by his service connected right knee disabilities. The appeal for increased ratings of the right knee disabilities has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claim can be adjudicated, including obtaining service treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran's right knee disability will be reviewed to determine if it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not demonstrate symptoms warranting a higher schedular rating, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal of the appeal on the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder and service connection for a lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, lung, and back disabilities. The Veteran's current conditions are deemed unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his claimed back and bilateral knee disorders. The claims of service connection for PTSD, left lower extremity disorder, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for right upper extremity parasthesias are also pending.

The Veteran's service-connected left foot disability is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that his degenerative joint disease of the left knee is proximately due to his service-connected left foot disability and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a nervous disorder and bilateral knee disability have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to military service.