Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease with prior myocardial infarction and stents is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The right knee disability has been granted as service connected.

The Veteran's appeals of the issues of whether current 20 percent evaluations for right and left knee arthritis were clearly and unmistakably erroneous have been withdrawn. The claims of service connection for sciatic nerve pain and reopening a previously denied claim for service connection for a back disorder are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a social and industrial survey. The claim will be reviewed again after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's left knee disability is not service-connected as there was no in-service injury or disease, and the current condition did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to hypertension and a left knee disorder, including obtaining a medical opinion on the relevance of in-service high blood pressure readings and formal readjudication of the claim for service connection for a left knee disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disorder is granted, with the Board finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support this determination. The claims of service connection for a right knee disorder and entitlement to TDIU are remanded due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed low back, shoulder, and knee disabilities are not related to his service-connected right hip synovitis.

The Veteran's bilateral knee symptoms are due to degenerative joint disease (DJD), which is related to her service-connected foot disability. The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for the Veteran's bilateral knee disability.

The Board found that the appellant's low back disorder was not incurred in service and is not related to his right ankle sprain. However, the appellant's left knee arthritis has been granted service connection effective December 13, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee disorders are not related to his active duty service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board found no evidence to support a direct relationship between the Veteran's in-service leg injury and his current left hip and knee arthritis, thus denying service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's post-TKR, right knee disability is rated at 60 percent effective from the date of this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or persistent/recurrent symptoms related to his active service, and the VA examinations did not support any nexus between his claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service records do not show any injury to the right knee during his military service. A cyst was found in October 2006, over a year after separation from active duty.,There is no indication of tinnitus in the Veteran's service records. The first mention of tinnitus is in February 1989 STRs.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand and right knee disabilities, finding no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a service-connected disability for hearing loss, heat stroke residuals, or bilateral knee pain. The claim for higher evaluation of right shoulder injury is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a hearing request, and will address both issues of service connection for knee disabilities and cervical spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The claim for bilateral knee disabilities remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected low back and left knee disabilities do not warrant increased ratings under the applicable rating criteria.