Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for arthrofibrosis of the left knee and has determined that it is related to his service-connected disabilities, granting service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral leg, right knee, and bilateral shoulder disorders are not related to his active military service.,There is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for various service-connected conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of the requested increased evaluations.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to October 18, 2010 and then increased to 30 percent from December 1, 2011. The rating for the residuals of total left knee arthroplasty has been fluctuating between 40 percent (from May 16, 2012 to January 8, 2014) and 30 percent (since March 1, 2014).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability and a left eye disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.,There is no credible or probative evidence showing that the Veteran's current left knee osteoarthritis or left eye disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee and low back disabilities did not manifest within one year of service, and thus could not be presumed to have been caused by service. The Board also determined that there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology for these conditions. As such, the Veteran failed to meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a video-conference hearing before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disabilities are not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that his current diagnosed mild degenerative joint disease is not shown to have been manifested in service or due to an in-service event.

The Veteran's knee and lumbar spine disabilities have not met the criteria for a higher disability rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Board has granted this claim.

The Veteran does not have a service-connectable right knee disability and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been denied as there is no evidence of limitation of motion or other impairment that warrants a higher rating.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a connection between the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, resulting in denial of the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities were not related to service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a disorder manifested by pain in the shoulders, wrists, and knees (arthritis), as well as stomach disorder and scar on the head. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred during or related to active duty.,Service records from active duty do not show any complaints, treatment, or diagnosis of arthritis or chronic joint problems, stomach disorders, or a surgical scar on the head.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the claimed conditions, as there is no credible evidence linking them to service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine for an 80 percent rating and render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and a right knee disability. The Board is dismissing these claims.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current disabilities for the Veteran's right knee, left wrist, right wrist and right ankle claims. Therefore, these claims are denied.