Knee decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Board hearing and the need to issue a statement of the case on two issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's septic arthritis and infections of the left knee, as well as his celiac disease, are not causally or etiologically related to service, including to his service-connected scar and residuals, laceration of the right forearm.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent prior to June 22, 2012 and 40 percent beginning on that date. The Veteran contends his disability is worse than what is contemplated by these ratings.,Prior to June 22, 2012, the disability was shown to have been productive of a limitation of extension limited to 20 degrees; however, flexion did not reach 45 degrees or less and there was no instability. Beginning on June 22, 2012, the Veteran's extension was limited to 30 degrees.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain a supplemental medical opinion regarding the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disorders.

The Board has ordered a remand to attempt to verify the Veteran's account of sustaining a right knee injury in service, including efforts to locate his service personnel records and any available treatment records from the U.S. Army Crime Records Center and Bad Nauheim Dispensary.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral knee disability was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been granted service connection and rated at 20 percent effective November 25, 2008. The other issues have not been resolved.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for a new VA medical opinion regarding the potential relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities and service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including migraines, left hip strain, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee degenerative joint disease, and cervical spine osteodegenerative disease. The Board has determined that further examination is needed to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for PTSD, but further development is needed to determine if there was a stressor event in service and whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for his right knee condition, including obtaining medical records and providing an examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and granted them, finding that new evidence received since the September 2004 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative joint disease of the back and neck, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and carpal tunnel syndrome are all related to his active military service. The evidence shows he was exposed to noise in service which led to his current hearing loss and tinnitus. His orthopedic conditions are also linked to his years of service due to repetitive motion injuries.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee and right shoulder disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiners opined that there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology, and the current conditions are less likely than not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disorder, left knee strain, and lumbar strain are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability did not manifest during service and was neither caused by nor aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. As such, service connection for a right knee condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms and functional impairment.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disorder is not related to his service or a service-connected right knee disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability but denied reopening of his previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.