Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's eye disability and leg and knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service. The evidence did not show any chronic disability during service, nor was there a showing of continuity of symptomatology after service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected scars, finding that neither version of the rating criteria is more beneficial to him and that the preponderance of the evidence is against each claim.

The Board found no evidence of a pre-existing left knee condition and concluded that any current left knee disorder did not originate in service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found no evidence of a disability manifested by right knee pain or hearing loss during service, and the veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service. As such, the claims for service connection were denied.

The veteran requested to withdraw their appeal regarding the compensable rating for service-connected scar left knee, and as a result, the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee disability, right foot disability, and hearing loss disability remain under review.

The Board denied increased ratings for the veteran's left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on instability or loss of extension with degenerative changes.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's asthma, left ankle disorder, and left knee disorder are not service-connected. However, his left ankle disorder was granted as a result of aggravation by a pre-existing condition during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 1, 2001 for the grant of TDIU. The earliest date that it was first credibly shown that his service-connected disabilities alone were of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment was September 1, 2001.

The Board found that the veteran's current back and left knee conditions are not related to his military service, as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to injuries sustained during active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his postoperative chondromalacia of both knees, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The VA determined that the veteran's right knee disability, which is manifested by arthritis with flexion consistently at least 120 degrees or greater, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of the initial 10 percent assigned.

The veteran's service-connected right total knee arthroplasty and left knee osteoarthritis are currently manifested by limited range of motion, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The veteran is also unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence, including a need for a VA examination and consideration of all pertinent diagnostic codes under the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, a right foot disorder, and a low back disorder. The veteran's current disabilities are related to injuries sustained during his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, tinea pedis (skin rash and peeling skin of both hands and feet), deviated septum, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and insomnia. The veteran's service records show that he experienced stressors related to his service in Southwest Asia, including exposure to enemy combat situations and witnessing the deaths of fellow soldiers.

The Board found that there is no evidence of any current left knee or ankle disability and the veteran's complaints are attributed to pes planus. The claims for service connection were denied as there was no medical evidence linking the disabilities to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for DJD of the right knee and left knee, finding no current evidence of arthritis in these joints and noting that any such condition is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for paresthesia of the right knee and right great toe, finding that a higher rating was not assignable based on the evidence provided.