Knee decisions — 2013

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not attributable to his period of military service or service-connected aseptic meningitis residuals. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and denied increased ratings for left knee disabilities. The Veteran's claim was reopened, but the Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim.

The Board is considering whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a final disallowed claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder. If reopened, the Veteran's claim for service connection will be evaluated based on any new evidence provided.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is secondary to his service-connected left toe fracture.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and an initial evaluation higher than 10 percent for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are found to be related to his active duty service.,Tinnitus is also found to have originated during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the duodenal ulcer is rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating based on current evidence.

The Veteran seeks an increased rating for her service-connected right knee disability, currently evaluated at 10 percent. The case is REMANDED to obtain VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination of her right knee.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is as likely the result of his service-connected left leg disability, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is presumed to have been incurred in service due to a pre-existing condition that worsened during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and updating his treatment records. The issue of increased disability evaluation for residuals of a healed contusion injury of the right knee remains before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected left knee condition is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and ensuring all necessary actions are taken.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a new VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his bilateral knee condition, and issuing an SOC addressing the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including hip and knee conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ankle disability warrants a 10 percent rating, reflecting moderate limitation of motion.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred during active service and denied his claim for service connection. The Board also determined that the injury to the right knee did not cause or worsen his existing disability.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the left knee is presumed to have been incurred in wartime service, and he was granted service connection for this condition. The claim for left hand numbness was not substantiated.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a diagnosed anterior left lower leg disability, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The only disabilities affecting his lower left extremity are degenerative joint disease in his left knee.