Knee decisions — 2013

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the right knee was granted and assigned a 10 percent disability rating effective July 20, 2004. The Veteran did not appeal this decision.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to February 6, 2008 were denied as there was no evidence of a claim being received by VA before that date.,VA assigned the earliest possible effective date based on the facts found.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's treatment records and to provide a VA examination. The appeal will be remanded for these actions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a rating higher than 20 percent for his left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for such an increase.

The Veteran's service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the right and left knees does not preclude her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities did not have their onset in service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and right knee disorder. The case is being remanded for additional examinations and consideration of the evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the bilateral lower extremities, left hip disability (left hip replacement), right knee disability (right knee replacement), low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing VA records and conducting medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for additional development and consideration.,Your claims for service connection have been returned to the Board for further review.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by instability and some limitation of motion, warrants a 20 percent rating for the period from April 28, 2012. A separate 10 percent rating is assigned for noncompensable limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling conflict for a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran's claim of reopening his thoracolumbar spine disability and his bilateral knee disability are still pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and are not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral syndromes have been rated at 10 percent each, but the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current functional limitations.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his claim for service connection for a heart disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference Board hearing on his service connection claim for sleep apnea and increased rating claims for lumbar sprain and right knee patellar tendonitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of any right knee disability present during service. The Veteran should be provided with another VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of all right knee disorders.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depression.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability and perforated tympanic membrane, concluding that these conditions were not related to his military service.