Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues of initial increased ratings for PTSD and a left knee disability are dismissed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee disorders, including total knee replacement, are not service-connected as they are a result of his pre-existing left femur fracture with resultant leg length discrepancy and do not have an onset or aggravation during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his lumbar spine disability. The initial evaluations assigned are in excess of what was previously denied. However, the appeal regarding service connection for disequilibrium resulting from acoustic trauma during active military service remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and left knee disorders did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and are not causally related to his military service. As such, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for the Veteran's right total knee replacement, effective February 1, 2007. The Veteran is also entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA and private medical records, which were not previously reviewed. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee osteoarthritis is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chondromalacia of bilateral knees was denied as there is no competent evidence to support a relationship between the current condition and his military service. The Veteran failed to report for a scheduled VA examination, which prevented VA from determining whether there is a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee Osgood-Schlatter's disease and left knee DJD. After reviewing all available evidence, including VA treatment records and VA examinations, the Board finds that these conditions are directly related to service due to complaints of pain during service and current x-ray findings showing arthritis in both knees.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for left knee disability was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation. Service connection claims for right knee and back disabilities were also denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the claims of shin splints, right knee disability, residuals of a broken nose, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder and finds that there is new and material evidence to support this claim. The Veteran's current left knee disorder is related to her in-service injury during active duty for training in January 1987.

The Veteran's residuals of a right knee injury, status post ACL reconstruction surgery, are related to his service and the claim for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an incomplete VA examination regarding the Veteran's left knee disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee arthritis. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee and foot disorders were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for any of the disabilities.