Knee decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the service connection claims for bilateral knee disorders and a low back disorder, both of which were previously denied. The Veteran's claim is granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for further examination to determine if it is aggravated by his service-connected right ankle fracture.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of multiple joints, including bilateral knees, hips, ankles, shoulders and elbows and the left wrist, is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's appeal was denied across multiple issues, including PTSD, fibromyalgia, pulmonary sarcoidosis with asthma, tendonitis of the left ankle, retropatellar pain syndrome (myxoid degeneration) of both knees, human papilloma virus, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other conditions. The appeals were not granted for any of these issues.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability that was incurred in or is otherwise related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing records and incomplete VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic orthopedic disorder of his left knee, finding no evidence to support a relationship between his current condition and his active service or his service-connected right knee disability. The issue regarding service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disorder was remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues include service connection claims and reopening of previously denied claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is attributable to his military service. The remaining claims have been withdrawn due to the Veteran's request.

The Board is remanding the claims for further development due to new evidence and additional issues raised by the Veteran's hearing testimony.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the knees and ankles were granted with 10% evaluations, but denied for higher ratings. The effective dates are not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claims. The Veteran's current symptoms of right knee pain and PTSD are considered in determining appropriate evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service.

The Board denied the claim for an increased rating on an extraschedular basis for the service-connected right knee muscle injury, postoperative.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee was manifested by no more than chronic pain, occasional swelling and crepitus, and range of motion limited to 0 degrees of extension and 100 to 125 degrees of flexion, with no clinical manifestation of instability. Therefore, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 15, 2013 was not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right and left index finger arthritis, as well as his left knee disability, are not service-connected. The VA examiner found no link between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability that was caused or aggravated by his service, or by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and meniscus tear, has been rated at 10 percent since January 8, 2007. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by subluxation and degenerative joint disease, did not warrant a higher evaluation as his symptoms were not more severe than those contemplated in the current 20 percent and 10 percent ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms and treatment are related to his military service.