Knee decisions — 2013

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left knee, and left shoulder conditions. The evidence shows that these disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee and right elbow disabilities are related to his military service, warranting service connection.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to June 13, 2006 and from August 1, 2007 onwards. The current rating of 30 percent is considered appropriate based on the findings at the time of his total knee replacement.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's left leg disability, including degenerative joint disease of the left hip and chondromalacia patella of the left knee, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim is denied as there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the extent of his right knee disability, including any potential right total knee replacement surgery. The issue will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent from November 9, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical records. The issues include a claim for an increased evaluation for left ankle disability, service connection claims for left knee injury and migraine headaches, and potential entitlement to benefits under the Veterans' Benefits Act of 1974 (PACT) due to exposure to burn pits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, pseudofolliculitis barbae (claimed as acne vulgaris), dermatitis, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including providing VCAA notice and obtaining medical records. The Veteran's right knee condition is being evaluated to determine if it is related to service or a service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right leg/knee disorder is related to his service-connected left fibula fracture. The Veteran contends that he favors his right leg due to his service-connected fracture, which may have caused or aggravated his current knee condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service connected based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and a chronic right shoulder disability, was granted. The Veteran also received increased evaluations for his PTSD.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his right knee disability. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease has been granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective from August 31, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee condition, and thus grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's claimed muscle aches and joint pain are diagnosed as bilateral knee and right ankle arthralgia/strain, which is not due to an undiagnosed illness or other disease incurred in service. The Board finds that the current condition is not related to active military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, specifically his right foot and right knee conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right shoulder and left knee disorders are not related to his military service, as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to any event, injury, or disease during service. The preponderance of the evidence supports a finding against the Veteran's claims.