Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee disability was not caused by VA treatment, and the Board found no evidence of negligence or fault on the part of VA. The additional disability is considered coincidental with the treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU, Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits, and a 40 percent evaluation for left knee disorder are denied as there is no evidence of unemployability or disability prior to the assigned effective dates.

The Veteran's right knee cartilage replacement for osteochondritis dissecans is rated at 10% and a separate evaluation of 10% has been granted for degenerative joint disease. The initial rating in excess of 10% for the cartilage replacement was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for restoration of ratings and compensable ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities, as well as an increased rating for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of direct or secondary service connection for the left knee disorder, and the skin and right knee disorders do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for allergic rhinitis, iliotibial band syndrome of the left knee, or lumbar strain. Therefore, service connection is denied for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been evaluated based on the criteria provided. The Board has determined that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claims for increased ratings, and thus the appeals are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claim of service connection for residuals of a low back injury. The decision also noted that there was no evidence showing that the current knee disabilities were related to service.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for his service-connected right shoulder, lumbosacral spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been denied. The VA examiner found no limitation of motion or additional functional loss due to pain, fatigue, weakness, or lack of endurance.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues regarding service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left knee disorders. The Veteran's claims are not about a presumption of exposure or new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his right knee disability has been withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's service-connected status-post patellectomy of the left knee with instability is currently rated at 20 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for degenerative joint disease of the left knee is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of injuries to his right hand and right knee, finding no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and any incident of service.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for arthropathy of the right and left acromioclavicular joints, as well as his patello-femoral syndrome of the left knee, have been granted. However, he is not entitled to a higher evaluation for his scar on the left shoulder.

The Veteran's service connection claims for major depression, PTSD based on personal assault, asthma (claimed as secondary to asbestos exposure), and a right knee condition were denied. The denial is due to the lack of evidence supporting these conditions or their relationship to service.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities have been diagnosed but the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions had their onset in service or within one year of service. The Board finds that his claims for service connection must be denied.

The Board has determined that additional evidence must be obtained to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and low back disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied as his disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support reopening the claim of service connection for bilateral hip degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's current evaluations for his knee disabilities are found to be appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms and impairment.