Knee decisions — 2013

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left knee and left hip disorders are not related to his active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease, and there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's back and bilateral knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, including a fall from a telephone pole during service. The VA examiners opined that there was inadequate documentation to relate these conditions to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral knee disability, which she claims was caused by her military service. The VA examiner found it less likely than not that the Veteran's current knee disability is related to her service. However, the case is being remanded as the examination report is inadequate and there are conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for left hip disability, right hip disability, right knee disability, and cervical spine (neck) disability. The Veteran's disabilities are being considered as secondary to his service-connected foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected left knee disability, as well as whether any diagnosed cervical spine, lumbar spine, or right knee disabilities are related to his service-connected left knee disability. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for post-operative left knee internal derangement residuals due to receipt of new and material evidence. The claims for headaches, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, and PTSD are all granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability, prostate cancer, and rectal bleeding were not present in service or within one year of separation. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a connection between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disabilities. As such, the claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for scars from shrapnel injuries to his right knee, buttock, and thigh are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a left knee injury related to service, and arthritis is neither shown by X-ray nor manifested within one year post-service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disability but denied all other claims due to lack of current diagnoses and no in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The disabilities were not found to be etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's right knee disability was found to not meet the criteria for a schedular evaluation in excess of 30 percent from June 26, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including degenerative joint disease, is shown to have developed as a result of an established event, injury, or disease during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a TDIU, initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee bursitis, initial compensable rating prior to January 8, 2010, and in excess of 10 percent from January 8, 2010, for bilateral pes planus, and entitlement to a compensable initial rating for anemia. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as a meniscus tear and patellofemoral chondromalacia, is causally related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and a right knee disorder, finding that there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 5299-5014. The appeal does not involve service connection for tuberculosis or a positive PPD test.,The Veteran's bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome has been found to be secondary to his lumbar spine strain, which is already service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability was not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a need for additional examination and development of her claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for internal derangement of the right knee.