Knee decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the left knee is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees, including lack of service treatment records and conflicting statements from witnesses.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examination and consideration of his right knee disability, which has reportedly worsened since the last examination in May 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and service department records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, low back, and left foot conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service. The preexisting skin graft scar of the left knee did not undergo a permanent increase in disability as a result of active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee ACL repair and right knee strain were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disabilities remains denied as new and material evidence has not been received.

The Board found no evidence of current service-connected disabilities for the Veteran's back, right knee, or right leg conditions. The VA examinations and medical records did not support a link between any diagnosed conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for back and left knee disabilities, finding no new and material evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent, the highest schedular rating available for a knee disorder post-arthroplasty. The appeal regarding TDIU was granted as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development due to a need for a VA examination of the Veteran's right knee disability, status-post total knee replacement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran has right knee arthritis and left knee chondromalacia and bursitis stemming from his military service.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities to his service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and back conditions due to a lack of examination. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder existed prior to his entry into service and was not aggravated by active duty service. Therefore, it denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hip and knee disabilities are not related to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative changes, left knee, including postoperative residuals of a total left knee replacement from July 1, 2007 to March 13, 2008 is currently rated at 30 percent.,From March 13, 2008, the Veteran's service-connected degenerative changes, left knee, including postoperative residuals of a total left knee replacement has been rated at 60 percent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and found new and material evidence. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disorder associated with asbestos exposure, chronic left knee disorder, and chronic right knee disorder are denied as not shown during active duty or related to service. The appeal is granted on reopening of the PTSD claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including clarification of prior service and VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not etiologically related to service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection.