Knee decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the possible need for new SSA records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee and right ankle disabilities were not caused by a disease or injury in service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development of evidence, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records.

The Board found no evidence of a back disorder or left knee disorder present in service, and concluded that any current disorders are not related to service. The Veteran's tinnitus was also denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for the claimed conditions was denied due to lack of evidence showing their onset during service or being linked to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral arthritis, status post patella fracture and arthroscopy, prior to March 30, 2010, did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis from May 12, 2006 through March 30, 2010 did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,For the period since June 1, 2011, the Veteran's left knee total arthroplasty met the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5055.,The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis from May 12, 2006 through June 27, 2011 did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,For the period since August 1, 2012, the Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty met the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5055.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee and right thumb disabilities are not related to his military service, thus denying both claims. The Veteran's right thumb disability is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a deviated nasal septum, left knee disability, and back disability. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability was not present in service or for many years thereafter and is not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a new VA medical examination and obtaining updated VA medical treatment records. The Veteran's issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee arthritis and entitlement to a TDIU are on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and translation of German documents. The issues are whether his bilateral knee disability, right shoulder disability, and undiagnosed illness manifested by chronic fatigue are related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful sedentary occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent disabling for left knee chondromalacia is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's neck disability, including residuals of a cervical spine fracture, is service connected. However, his left knee disability is not service connected as it is not related to his right knee disability or any other in-service injury.,The Board found that the evidence did not establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's current left knee disability and his service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral knee disability or low back disability, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his claims for service connection for lower back, right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disorders.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his L5-S1 herniated nucleus pulposus and right knee disability were denied by the RO. The issues of service connection for cervicalgia, sinus bradycardia, hypertension, and colitis were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, to include as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus, is denied because there is no evidence of an underlying disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease, instability, and residual scarring, is currently rated at 10 percent under DC 5259. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects his symptoms and denied a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.