Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected arthritic changes in the left knee with meniscal tear are productive of, at most, pain and restriction of extension to 10 degrees and restriction of flexion to 85 degrees. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the effect of his service-connected bilateral pes planus on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a left knee disability is denied as there was no new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claim, and the effective date cannot be prior to August 11, 2004.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, hypertension, headaches, and low back disorders as the evidence did not support a medical nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, finding that new and material evidence had been presented to reopen the claim. However, the Board concluded that there was no medical evidence linking any current right knee disability to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee scar and residuals of a fracture of the left thumb, as well as his attempts to reopen his claims for service connection for the residuals of a left foot sprain and arthritis of the left knee. The decision also remanded the extraschedular rating claim for the left thumb disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected left ankle condition and grants service connection for this condition. The liver condition claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has considered and applied both the old and new versions of VA regulations for rating disabilities of the spine, with the most favorable regulation being applied after the effective date of the regulatory change. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated based on limitation of motion under DCs 5285, 5292, 5293, 5294, and 5295.

The Veteran's claims for reopening service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee instability does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent, and has found no additional disability for which a separate rating for arthritis could be assigned. The current 20 percent rating is maintained.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, sinusitis, and rhinitis prior to the Board's decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's arthritis of the knees and low back strain were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred. The current disabilities are deemed unrelated to military service.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is not due to disease or injury incurred in service, and his right knee instability disability does not warrant a rating higher than the current 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the claims of service connection for malaria, a back condition, a knee condition, a foot condition, and a skin condition. The claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for posttraumatic headaches is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, a heart disorder, and hypothyroidism. The evidence does not support these claims as they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the reopening of his left knee claim and the rating assigned for his posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various knee and spine disorders have been granted. The specific conditions include right knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, left knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative changes of the bilateral hands, hips, knees and feet is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis of the shoulders, knees, and lower back is related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and respiratory disability, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected arthritis of the right ankle and knee. The claim for osteomyelitis was also denied on reopening, but new and material evidence had not been received.