Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected right knee arthritis and instability have been granted, with a combined evaluation of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a nasal injury, left knee disability (ACL tear), and lower back disability. The Veteran's claims are supported by credible accounts of in-service injuries and medical opinions linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral aphakia does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent. The combined rating of his service-connected disabilities is 50 percent, which does not meet the requirements for a TDIU rating under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that a 10 percent evaluation is warranted for the Veteran's service-connected left knee disorder from May 8, 2009 forward. The appeal period prior to this date was evaluated as noncompensable.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee arthritis was not due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee replacement with arthritis, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is causally or etiologically related to service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for right inguinal hernia and did not reopen the claims for left knee and left wrist disabilities. The appellant's claim for increased rating of residuals of appendectomy was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected right knee injury, status post meniscal tear is being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inconsistencies in her competency status and the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to increased evaluations for Gilbert's syndrome, right knee strain, and schizoaffective disorder with major depressive disorder are also being remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service, granting the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for CUE in a May 1972 rating decision that reduced his left knee disability rating from 10 percent to noncompensable. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent, reflecting severe subluxation and instability. The right shoulder disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right foot injury and total right knee arthroplasty, finding that the current evaluations were appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine whether any claimed conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and finds that the Veteran's left knee disability is related to her in-service diagnosis of patellafemoral syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any chronic residuals of concussion, bruised rib, hyperextension of the right knee, right ankle sprain, right small toe fracture, right broken collarbone/right shoulder disorder, right hip injury, cold weather injury to hands, or fractured nose. The claims are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's right total knee replacement disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective November 1, 2008. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and residuals of right femur fracture were denied. The Veteran was currently rated at 40 percent for his lumbosacral spine condition, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA regulations.