Knee decisions — 2015

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

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and the Veteran's claim of secondary service connection for a right shoulder disability. The decision is final as it was not appealed to the Court.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle, right foot, bilateral knee, and bilateral wrist disabilities due to lack of clear and unmistakable error in the January 2015 decision.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence linking the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities to his military service. The VA examiner concluded that the current knee problems are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right knee strain was denied. However, he received a separate compensable rating of 10% for degenerative arthritis prior to January 11, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and the signed consent form for his right knee arthroplasty.

The Board finds that the Veteran's preexisting right knee Osgood Schlatter's disease was aggravated by his military service, and therefore grants service connection for a right knee disorder. The current diagnosis of degenerative joint disease of the right knee is associated with the Veteran's right knee Osgood Schlatter's disease.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee arthritis did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5257, resulting in denial of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed conditions and insufficient medical nexus opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back pain and right knee pain, finding no evidence of a current disability related to service. The claim for dental disability (for compensation purposes) was also denied as there is no evidence of loss of substance of the body of the maxilla or mandible resulting from bone loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including an updated VA examination and review of treatment records. The issue remains whether the right knee anterior thigh mass liposarcoma warrants a compensable rating.

The Board has found that the Veteran's deviated nasal septum is related to in-service injuries and grants service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for bilateral knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete examination records, outstanding VA treatment records, and potential need for further examinations. The claims will be considered together as they are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and hip disorders are being remanded for further examination and development as the Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and residuals of left hand frostbite. The claim for sleep apnea is pending.,There was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee has been rated at 10 percent for instability and noncompensable for flexion and extension. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective October 21, 2005 based on the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that the evidence does not support a grant of benefits in any of these cases.

The Veteran's residuals of total left knee arthroplasty from January 1, 2014 to August 31, 2014 were rated at 60 percent due to severe pain and weakness.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to additional evidence submitted by the Veteran.