Knee decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that degenerative joint disease of the left knee was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current arthritis of the right hip and degenerative joint disease of the right knee did not manifest during or as a result of active military service, including an in-service injury. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's arthritis of the feet, ankles, legs, knees, hips and shoulders are related to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral knee disability and TDIU. The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding aggravation of the knee disability by his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and because the issue of TDIU is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Board denied all claims for service connection, finding that the appellant's claimed conditions were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right knee disability has been dismissed due to the death of the claimant.

The Board denied service connection for below-the-knee amputation of the left lower extremity due to arteriosclerosis, as secondary to the service-connected left great toe with osteomyelitis. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's amputation was caused by his service-connected toe fracture.

The Veteran's left knee joint effusion was granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable rating effective August 30, 2005. The RO increased the rating to 10 percent from February 23, 2008. A separate compensable rating of 10 percent for painful motion with joint or periarticular pathology was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The primary issue is whether he can establish service connection for his right knee disability as secondary to his already service-connected right ankle sprain.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for further medical opinions regarding service connection and disability ratings.

The Veteran's headaches are presumed to have been incurred in service. His bilateral knee disorders, cervical spine disorder and right leg sciatica are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's current right knee disability, diagnosed as status post arthroscopy for Grade 3 chondroplasty of the medial facet of the patella and chondroplasty for Grade 1 chondromalacia of the tibia, was incurred during his active duty service. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded to allow for a VA examination to determine the relationship between any current disability and his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, citing permanent and total disability. As a result, the Board dismisses the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his left knee disability was denied. The appeal is based on the severity of his service-connected postoperative residuals from a left knee injury during military service.

The Veteran is granted initial noncompensable disability ratings for his service-connected right shoulder dislocation, patella tendon repair of the right knee, and patella tendon repair of the left knee.,All three conditions are rated as 10 percent under DC 5202 (other impairment of the humerus) due to pain and instability in the shoulders.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for right knee laxity and a 10 percent rating for residuals of right knee meniscectomy, both under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and development of evidence, including for a new VA examination regarding a separate ligament knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, diagnosed as bilateral total knee arthroscopy, had its onset during active service and is therefore granted service connection.