Knee decisions — 2015

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability did not manifest within one year of service and there was no evidence linking his current condition to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the Veteran does not have a left knee disorder attributable to her active duty service.

The Veteran's right knee conditions, specifically osteochondroma and osteoarthritis, have been rated at 10 percent prior to March 4, 2009. The Board finds that the symptoms are more consistent with a rating of 20 percent for chrondromalcia of the right knee under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee disorder and right ear hearing loss have been denied as the evidence does not establish continuity of symptomatology or a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the January 1993 denial is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging comprehensive examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected GSW residuals in the left knee and anxiety disorder. The RO should also consider a full grant of benefits from August 3, 2012 to the present.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in an award of TDIU. The Veteran also received a temporary total disability rating for surgery performed on December 22, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain service treatment records and determine if the appellant's current left knee and hip disorders are related to his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development. The issues include rating his anxiety and depressive disorder, increased hearing loss disability, left ear hearing loss, cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, ischemic heart disease, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for his right knee disability was granted. The effective date is set at February 1, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disorders, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are supported by medical evidence linking them to her active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, began during his active service and is related to his in-service injury. The left knee degenerative joint disease was also found to be related to his service-connected conditions. A rating of 10 percent for instability of the left knee and a separate rating of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral knee disability, and low back disability have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA opinions to address the etiology of her left and right knee disabilities, as well as her hypertension. The opinions must consider the impact of her service-connected conditions on her obesity and sleep impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including scheduling a VA social and industrial survey and obtaining records from the SSA. The case will be reviewed again after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia with lateral meniscus tear, status post tibial fracture, has been rated at the maximum allowable under the rating criteria. The other issues have not met the criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not causally related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a lumbar spine disorder, left foot and knee disorders, right foot disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, and arthritis of multiple joints. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.