Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral shin splints and pes planus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for a left knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are not supported by credible evidence of a continuity of symptomatology since service or an association with service. The claims will be remanded to further develop the record.

The Veteran's postoperative osteochondritis dissecans of the right knee with degenerative joint disease and instability of the right knee are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the instability issue has been granted a separate rating.

The Veteran's left knee, left foot, cervical spine, and ED disorders were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.,Service connection was denied for these conditions as they are not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 3, 2001 for the grant of service connection for a scar of the right knee and has awarded a 10 percent disability rating since that date.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and thus no jurisdiction remains to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee patellofemoral syndrome and lumbosacral strain existed prior to service and were not aggravated therein. As a result, the claims for service connection for these conditions were denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a neurological disability of the right knee that he believes is secondary to his service-connected arthritis. The Board has determined that an additional examination and opinion are needed to address these claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability, including lumbar strain and arthritis, was incurred in service. The left knee disability is due to aggravation of a pre-existing injury during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome of the right deep peroneal nerve with degenerative joint disease and residuals of right knee sprain with chondromalacia were denied as there is no evidence of a service connection issue, only rating disputes.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted service connection with initial ratings of 10 percent each, effective December 18, 2001. The claim for an earlier effective date is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case to the Philadelphia RO for scheduling a Travel Board or videoconference hearing regarding the Veteran's right knee increased rating claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing new opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current low back disability, neck disability, hand/finger disabilities, knee disabilities, foot disabilities, and hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is not service-connected and his left knee disability does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected right knee disability does not warrant a higher rating, and he failed to establish new and material evidence for the other claims.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee, status-post arthroscopy is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that this rating is appropriate as it reflects limitation of flexion to 30 degrees and compensates for painful motion due to his condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a new VA examination to determine if any left knee disability had its onset during service, whether arthritis manifested within one year of separation from service, and if there was a worsening of any pre-existing condition during service.