Knee decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's in-service knee injury. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral shoulder or knee disability that is related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The decision did not address service connection for left knee disorder or increased evaluation for thoraco-lumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hip and pelvic disabilities, bilateral knee disabilities, and foot pain due to a lack of evidence showing current diagnoses or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records from Dr. T. L. N.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, and left knee disability. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA Form 646 from his authorized representative.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee disability during service or within the first post-service year, and concluded that arthritis is not presumed to have developed due to service. The Veteran's current right knee condition was deemed unrelated to his military service.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's current left knee strain and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and PTSD due to issues with his discharge from service and incomplete medical records. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional information and evidence.

The Board denied service connection for the appellant's claimed low back disorder, left knee injury (torn meniscus), obstructive sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, left ankle/tendon disorder, and right ankle/tendon disorder. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to decide the claims of service connection for migraine headaches and left knee disability. The claim of service connection for a low back disability is deferred until the claim of service connection for the left knee disability is finally adjudicated.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back, left knee, and left hip disorders are secondarily related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not sustain any injuries to his back, knee, or neck during service. The post-service symptoms are not related to service.

The VA determined that there is no competent and credible evidence establishing a current right knee disability, thus denying the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions have been denied. The VA has determined that the current evaluations do not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right knee was incurred in, or caused by, his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective March 9, 2013. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, low back disability, narcolepsy, and left knee disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in active military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.