Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine his employment status and whether he has an employment handicap that prevents him from pursuing vocational rehabilitation training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities do not warrant a higher disability rating based on current evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees have been denied as there is no evidence of limitation of motion or instability that would warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and bladder and urinary incontinence are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to active service. Bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral knee disability were also denied as they are not related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the residuals of a pelvic bone fracture, right and left knee disabilities, gastroesophageal reflux disease, lumbar spine disability, migraine headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea did not warrant higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the record, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is incurred in active service and grants service connection for this condition. The claim for a left knee disability remains pending as further development is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during active service, with the left knee disability being granted on a direct basis. The appeal is now remanded for additional development regarding the left knee.

The Veteran's service-connected right hip and knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each since November 18, 2005. The issue of a 10 percent rating for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities is moot.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for right and left knee disabilities, as well as bilateral tinnitus. The Veteran's service connection claims were not supported by new and material evidence.,Service connection was denied for a back disability due to lack of evidence linking it to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than May 25, 2006 for tinnitus service connection and denied his increased rating claims for bilateral hearing loss and knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently suffer from a diagnosed right knee disability and thus, service connection for a right knee condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, heart disorder, right foot drop, right and left knee disorders, and right and left hip disorders were denied as these conditions did not develop during active service or are otherwise not related to service.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is being remanded for further examination and determination of whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot disability.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are found to be related to in-service injuries, and service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee and ankle conditions are not related to his active duty service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD was not incurred in service due to lack of credible supporting evidence for his claimed stressor. The low back and left leg disorders were also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left knee disabilities have been granted at separate 10 and 20 percent since May 22, 2009. The Board finds that the current assigned ratings are appropriate.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected low back and right knee conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected scars have been evaluated as non-compensable. The Board found no evidence of deep, unstable, or painful scars that would warrant a compensable rating.