Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for internal derangement, bilateral knees and a back disorder. The evidence submitted since the last denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing the Veteran with new VA examinations to address his claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability is being remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of whether the Veteran has underlying pathology for his diagnosed left hip, bilateral knee, and low back pain. The claim will be further developed to determine if service connection can be established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive lung disease, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease and menisci tear of the left knee was also denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to April 14, 2005. After that date, a total knee replacement resulted in a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling for degenerative joint disease. A separate, compensable evaluation of 20 percent is granted for impairment of the meniscus of the left knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-service left knee disorder was aggravated by active service, and thus grants service connection for his current left knee arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of left knee surgery was granted, with the Board finding that his current left knee disability is related to in-service surgery. The claim for lung cancer was denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his military service or his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found no current right knee disorder and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The issue of an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with residuals on the right side was also addressed, but as this matter is being remanded, it will be considered in a separate decision.

The Veteran's right knee disability, even with consideration of arthritis, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Veteran's DJD of the right knee was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board finds that there is no evidence linking his current DJD to a fall in 1965 or any other event during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee chondromalacia patella and bilateral lower extremity varicose veins do not warrant a higher disability rating under applicable VA regulations. The current ratings are considered appropriate.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic left knee strain is not manifested by any functional impairment warranting a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected right knee and right little finger disabilities, including requests for increased ratings and a TDIU. The case is being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records, vocational rehabilitation folder, and address an earlier effective date issue.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to January 6, 1998, from January 6, 1998 to December 28, 1998, and from December 28, 1998 to November 2, 2001. The Veteran's residual scars have been granted a rating of 70 percent. Service connection for residuals of left chest lipoma has not been established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his active service and have denied all claims for service connection.

The Board found that the evidence did not establish clear and unmistakable error in granting service connection for traumatic arthritis of the right knee, and therefore denied severance. The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent based on painful or limited motion due to traumatic arthritis.