Knee decisions — 2013

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder, specifically addressing whether it is related to his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as a right foot disorder (calcaneal spurs), have been denied. The evidence does not support the presence of chronic conditions during or within one year after service discharge.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations, with no separate ratings for instability or arthritis. The claims for increased ratings are denied as the evidence does not support a finding of entitlement to higher ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his military service, including any injury sustained as a result of parachute jumps. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between Osgood-Schlatter disease and arthritis of the left knee. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is now pending.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current low back and right knee disabilities and his service or any service-connected disability. The claims for bilateral hearing loss are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board found that the Veteran's Osgood-Schlatter disease of the right knee predated service and was not aggravated by service. No current right knee disorder is related to service, nor is any acquired psychiatric disability related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his right knee strain.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disorder and remanded it for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right knee disorders found.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated as 10 percent for instability since April 11, 2012. The Board finds the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of his left knee is being remanded due to the failure to provide proper VCAA notice prior to the February 2010 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for an aggravation opinion in the April 2011 VA examination report.

The Veteran's claims for right knee and left leg/knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current left knee or back disability, and the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, right ankle disability, and hiatal hernia are secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions provided in previous examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease with right forminal stenosis at C6-C7, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected left knee disabilities have been granted, with a 10 percent evaluation assigned for arthritis and noncompensable limitation of extension. The claim for service connection for instability has also been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability due to lack of evidence supporting his claim.