Knee decisions — 2015

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left knee chondromalacia is not related to service or a service-connected condition, and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for pseudogout has been dismissed as the issue is moot due to a prior grant of service connection under different terminology.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left knee disability or right ear hearing loss, and thus cannot establish service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability is manifested by pain and stiffness, but not by chronic objective evidence of flexion limited to 45 degrees or less; extension limited to 10 degrees or more; recurrent subluxation or objective evidence of lateral instability; dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent locking, pain, or effusion into the joint; or impairment of the tibia or fibula. The criteria for a disability rating of 10 percent have been met.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right knee disorder has been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee disorder, including arthritis and residuals of meniscectomy and ACL repair, is presumed to have started in service due to continuous symptoms since then.

The Board found that the Veteran's left and right knee disorders were not incurred in service, as his symptoms resolved after initial treatment. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim of service connection for sinusitis, but denied the Veteran's request for an increased rating for his left knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for a mood disorder with depressive features and increased the rating to 70 percent effective October 15, 2012. The Veteran's other claims were either denied or not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee disability, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected osteomyelitis and related conditions contributed to his death from sepsis, meeting the criteria for DIC based on service connection.

The Veteran was unable to maintain substantial gainful employment from August 2006 to August 2007 due to service-connected disabilities, but has been able to obtain and maintain substantially gainful occupation since then.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosed right knee degenerative joint disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service snoring and turbinate swelling. The other issues on appeal have been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining his complete service treatment and personnel records.

The Veteran's combined disability rating was 70 percent since October 1996, meeting the criteria for an additional allowance of DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1311(a)(2).

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service records and medical records related to the appellant's claims. The appellant is also asked to provide names and addresses of any private healthcare providers who have treated her.

The Veteran's right knee disability is not service-connected on a direct basis, but it has been aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The effective date for any potential award of increased rating remains to be determined.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a diagnosed chronic low back or right knee disability during service, and the medical evidence does not establish a current diagnosis. The Veteran's symptoms are attributed to her active duty service, but VA has determined that they do not meet the criteria for service connection.