Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The appeal will be returned to the Board after this additional development is completed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities and degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine were denied. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his left knee disability has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing a new opinion from an orthopedist regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip and knee disabilities, as well as right lower extremity radiculopathy, all of which are found to be proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's right and left knees are each rated at 20 percent for moderate instability, with no higher ratings granted. Service connection has been established for a bilateral hip disorder as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back and left knee disorders, finding new and material evidence. The claims are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus developed during his period of active duty service. For his bilateral knee disorders, a VA examination is required to determine if they are related to his periods of ACDUTRA and AD service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied. The reduction from a 20% to a 10% rating for the right knee injury with instability was found improper, but the Veteran's current 10% rating for arthritis of the right knee and 10% rating for degenerative joint disease of the left knee remain unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his right eyebrow and left knee scars, as well as his service connection claims for coronary artery disease, brain aneurysm, memory loss, and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's PTSD claim was also denied.

The Veteran's initial increased evaluations for left knee tendinitis and lumbar degenerative joint disease prior to November 7, 2008 are denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation for the service-connected conditions during this period.

The Veteran's right knee surgery resulting from a service-connected condition required convalescence, and she is granted a temporary total rating for this period.

The Veteran's right ring finger disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling since July 30, 2007. The claim for service connection of degenerative changes of the left knee remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected total left knee arthroplasty is currently rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of severe pain and weakness.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of whether an extraschedular rating is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including arthritis, partial meniscus tear, and partial anterior cruciate ligament tear, is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. The Board also found that the Veteran's duodenal ulcer or residuals thereof, including gastrointestinal reflux disorder (GERD), are aggravated by medications taken for his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include bilateral hearing loss (60%), PTSD (30%), shell fragment wound to the left knee (20%), tinnitus (10%), degenerative changes of the left knee (10%), and varicosities of the left leg (10%), do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee and ankle disabilities may be related to service, but an additional examination is needed to determine this relationship.

The appellant's five service-connected disabilities have not precluded substantially gainful employment, thus the requirements for a total evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) have not been met.