Knee decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not related to his military service, including exposure to non-ionizing radiation. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is due to in-service injury or disease.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have current bilateral knee disabilities that were incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence is against a finding of service connection for right and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left knee condition was denied, and the RO reduced his disability rating to 10 percent effective November 1, 2012. The right knee issue was not addressed as it did not involve service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and are not otherwise related to active service. As such, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his right knee anterior patellar spurs, arthritis of the hands (secondary to carpal tunnel syndrome), or an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability was not incurred or aggravated by service and is unrelated to his service. The VA examination reports have been considered, and they support this conclusion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a right knee disability. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to ionizing radiation, and thus could not establish service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.311. For the right knee issue, the Board determined that the Veteran did not have any documented right knee symptoms or treatment during service, nor within one year post-separation from service. The arthritis was also unrelated to an injury or disease in service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and right ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and readjudicating the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for prostate disability and right ankle rash are also resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's left knee and low back disorders are service-connected. The right knee chondromalacia, limitation of flexion, and extension issues have been granted increased ratings. A separate rating for instability was also granted. Major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent disabling.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for low back and left knee disabilities due to new evidence showing current diagnoses. The Veteran's military duties as a parachute member are considered in determining that his current conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting spine and neurological examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VCAA notice.

The Veteran's left knee disability has not resulted in limitation of flexion to 45 degrees or less, limitation of extension to 10 degrees or less, or subluxation or instability. Therefore, his claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee chondromalacia, right shoulder rotator cuff syndrome, and respiratory disorder are related to her military service.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed musculoskeletal disorders were not manifest in service or, for arthritis, to a degree of 10 percent within one year of separation. The Board concludes that the preponderance of evidence is against service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders are not related to his active service or a service-connected disability, and therefore denied the claim.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right leg condition, including shin splints and knee varus, which he claims are secondary to his service-connected left tibia stress fracture. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee varus.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder was not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right and left ankle disabilities. The Veteran's PTSD claim was denied as his statements linking it to a ship incident were contradicted by the ship's history.