Knee decisions — 2013

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left knee status post lateral release for patella dislocation was denied. Service connection for a right knee disorder, claimed as secondary to the left knee disability, was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic synovitis of the right knee was denied by the Board, as the evidence did not show flexion limited to 30 degrees or extension limited to 15 degrees.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are related to his service, specifically parachute jumps during active duty. The claim for PTSD is remanded as there is conflicting evidence regarding its diagnosis and etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as knee conditions, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's patellofemoral arthralgia of the left knee is currently rated at 30 percent, and her GERD with gastritis has been assigned a temporary initial compensable rating from June 14, 2007 to September 23, 2008. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete evidence. The case will be returned for further review after obtaining a new VA examination.

The Board found that hypertension, arthritis of the elbows, and arthritis of the knees were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's symptoms did not manifest until many years after her separation from active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including additional examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disorder, right groin staples, or right leg neuropathy. The Veteran's service treatment records did not show any complaints, treatment, or diagnoses related to these conditions during or after service. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a bilateral knee disorder, but did not address the other issues as they are related to different conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip avascular necrosis, as well as his claims for residuals of right knee contusion and residuals of left knee arthroscopic meniscetomy. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed back injury, bilateral knee disability, heart disease, hypertension, and thyroid disease as they were not shown to have had their onset in service or be otherwise related to service.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service event, injury, or illness that led to these disabilities.

The Board found no competent or credible evidence linking the Veteran's current cervical spine and knee disabilities to his service, including World War II. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there was no competent evidence to relate either condition to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected left leg shell fragment wound and degenerative joint disease of the left knee was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including right ankle, left ankle, and right knee conditions, did not have their onset during service or are otherwise related to service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings at any point during the appeal period.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 20, 2001 for the award of service connection for a right knee disability, a ganglion cyst of the left wrist and a disability of the left middle finger.