Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and knee condition are found to be related to service, with the hearing loss attributed to noise exposure during service and the knee condition due to arthritis. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for a right shoulder condition and service connection for left and right knee disabilities were denied as there is no evidence of current disability or service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's left knee disorder, including whether it was aggravated by INACDUTRA on December 29, 1990. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip disabilities, finding that a VA opinion is needed to address whether these conditions were aggravated by his service-connected pes cavus.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including the scar from his surgery, is currently rated at 60 percent disabling as of May 2, 2011.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are rated based on their current functional impairment, with the left knee receiving a higher rating due to its instability.,The Veteran is denied entitlement to increased ratings for his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's initial ratings for residuals of shin splints with chondromalacia of the left and right knees have been increased to 20 percent, effective March 16, 2009, for the right knee and March 8, 2002, for the left knee.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee arthritis was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability and did not manifest during active duty. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his knee and shoulder conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current cardiovascular disorder, including hypertension, that is service-connected. The right knee disability and acquired psychiatric disability are also denied as there is insufficient evidence to establish their onset during service or connection to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right knee disability found, including the diagnosed knee strain. The examiner must provide opinions on whether it is at least as likely as not that any diagnosed right disability was caused by or due to the Veteran's active service, his service-connected left knee disability, or both.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and left knee disability, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims. The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not ready for appellate disposition and requires additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is presumed to be due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis of the right ankle, arthritis of the right knee, arthritis of the left knee, and tinnitus with vertigo as these conditions are at least in equipoise with a finding that they were incurred during active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for DJD of the left knee, status post total knee replacement. The evidence shows that the Veteran sustained a shrapnel injury to his leg in service and experienced ongoing left knee pain since then. His current diagnosis of DJD is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine has been granted.,Service connection for a left knee disability has been established.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional development for the Veteran's knee disabilities, including an examination to assess current severity and any functional loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.