Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection and an initial compensable disability evaluation for the issues listed, including bilateral hearing loss. The appeal is dismissed without prejudice.

The Veteran's right knee nerve damage is found to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The remaining issues are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's right knee instability and traumatic osteoarthritis have been rated at the maximum allowable under VA rating criteria, with a 30 percent rating for each condition since October 25, 2010.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of service connection for TBI, headaches, and a bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain new examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the right knee, bilateral foot disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's right knee disorder was caused by his service-connected Morton's foot, right. As such, service connection for DJD of the right knee is granted.

The Veteran's left knee instability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the maximum allowable rating under the Amputation Rule is 40 percent. The combined rating for her left lower extremity disabilities does not exceed this limit.

The Veteran's left knee disorder was granted a 60 percent rating from April 1, 2014 to July 1, 2014. The right knee disorder was also granted a 60 percent rating. Service connection for Hepatitis C was remanded due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The case will be remanded to allow for these actions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder due to lack of credible evidence supporting an in-service injury and current disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee disability, which is now a total knee arthroplasty, is causally related to his service-connected residuals of a fractured left fibula with left ankle strain. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for right knee Osgood Schlatter's disease because no new and material evidence was submitted that related to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim, namely that any preexisting right knee disability was due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for service connection for a right knee disability. However, the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to service or his service-connected left and right ankle disabilities. The claims for service connection for left knee and left shoulder disabilities have also been denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or chronicity that could cause these conditions. The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for mechanical back pain (low back) has not been addressed, and the TDIU claim remains intertwined with this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disability and left knee disability are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records. The AOJ will request these records and then readjudicate the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection is denied for all issues.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and requests for additional information from the Veteran regarding his National Guard service. The claims will be reconsidered based on the available evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including examinations of his right knee, shoulder, ankle, and PFB. The claim for a TDIU is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be rendered in this case, including obtaining VA treatment records and clarifying the Veteran's periods of service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee disability and service connection for a right knee disability and low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury resulting in these conditions.