Knee Board decisions

The Board remands the case to obtain additional evidence, including service medical records and private treatment records.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee and a 20 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the left ankle, residuals of a simple fracture of the shaft of the left fibula.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, including degenerative joint disease, as there was no evidence that her preexisting condition worsened during service or that the current condition is related to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, low back disability, and heart disorder (secondary to PTSD), as well as an increased rating for his post-traumatic stress disorder.

The veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, heart palpitations with left-sided chest pain, lumbosacral strain, sinusitis, left ear hearing loss, left fifth finger, tendonitis of the right knee, and migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities of the left knee, left ankle, or low back. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right hand disorder and found that the veteran does not currently have residuals of a right hand injury. The initial disability rating for the right knee degenerative changes with limitation of motion was set at 10 percent, which is the minimum rating allowed.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examination. The RO will attempt to obtain his military records, including those from the National Guard and Army Hospital at Fort Carson.

The Board denied a disability evaluation higher than 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected residuals of right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, as recent VA examinations did not show objective findings of recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for dependency allowance was denied as he did not submit the necessary form to request additional compensation for dependents within one year of receiving notification of his qualifying disability rating.

The veteran's right knee disorder is rated at 30 percent, and no higher rating is granted due to lack of limitation of motion or other disabling conditions. Separate ratings for arthritis, painful motion, or limitation of motion are not warranted.

The veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology and whether it was caused or worsened by an in-service injury. The case will be readjudicated based on the new evidence.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining updated VA records and private medical evidence. The veteran should be examined to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities and their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee condition is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability and left knee disability were denied. The claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder was granted with an initial 70 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired disorder of the right knee, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's left knee disability is manifested by instability and arthritis with pain on motion, warranting a combined 20 percent rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for bilateral retropatellar pain syndrome of the knees and a bilateral wrist disability.