Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, knee, and hip disorders are not related to his active service or a service-connected disability. The claims were denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for postoperative residuals of the left knee and left knee arthritis were denied. The effective dates for the granted increased ratings are February 3, 2004.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a spine condition and bilateral knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active duty service or service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for all issues related to service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his knee disabilities, as well as consideration of new VA outpatient treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the spine and knees. The RO also denied his claim for a higher disability rating for his bladder cancer condition. The case is remanded for further action on the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including providing the appropriate VA forms for assigning power of attorney to his representative and sending proper notice in connection with his claim for an increased evaluation. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any back disorder that may be present and to ascertain the severity and manifestations of his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, degenerative changes of the left knee, and right leg disorder as secondary to his service-connected residuals of aseptic meningitis. The rating assigned remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed low back and left knee disabilities are not related to his military service, and thus denied these claims. The Veteran's headaches were also not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of extra-schedular evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left lumbar myofascial pain syndrome with DDD of the lumbosacral spine and DJD of the left knee with history of medial collateral ligament strain were denied. The current ratings are 60 percent for the lumbar condition and 10 percent for the knee condition.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities and is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of these disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and right knee disabilities are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's vocational goal of becoming a dog trainer is reasonably feasible, and the Board finds that achievement of this goal is feasible given his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder, right knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD). The denial was based on lack of new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability was reduced to a 10 percent rating, but the Board has now restored the 20 percent rating based on evidence showing improvement in his condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied, and his claim seeking service connection for a left knee condition secondary to his service-connected right knee disability was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is more likely than not incurred in service during April 2002. The initial rating for LPM prior to October 25, 2004 was granted at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chondromalacia of the left knee warrants a noncompensable rating, and his allergic rhinitis does not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including a torn meniscus and osteoarthritis, was rated at 100 percent effective July 9, 2009 following his total left knee arthroplasty.