Knee decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee conditions, including VA and private treatment records from the Biloxi VAMC.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disorder, including arthritis. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current left knee condition.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, bilateral heel spurs, bilateral knee disability, left foot disability, and bilateral shoulder disability as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee, bilateral hip and low back disabilities as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since February 1, 2013. The rating is based on the current range of motion and symptoms associated with his total knee replacement.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling issue for his videoconference Board hearing. The issues of service connection for right ankle strain and instability, right knee are still under consideration.

The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as a strain with internal derangement and mild degenerative changes, is related to her active military service. The Board grants this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee chondromalacia patella and patellar bursitis, but denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are related to his in-service duties.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling error, and the Veteran's address of record needs to be confirmed. The Veteran will be scheduled for a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder, right ankle disorder, and right knee disorder have been reopened. However, the Board finds that these conditions were not incurred during his period of active service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 (flexion) and 5261 (extension). The Veteran has no other service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's peroneal nerve disability is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a broken rib, headaches, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral knee disabilities. The initial ratings for these conditions are being remanded.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is not causally or etiologically related to his service, and it was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition. The claim for secondary service connection has also been denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee and a pre-existing right knee disorder that was aggravated by military service. The hearing loss claim is not addressed as it does not involve service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee disorder, to include as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability, and his tinnitus have been granted. The Veteran has not received a rating decision or effective date for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging a VA examination. The Veteran seeks service connection for his left knee disability, which he claims was aggravated by his right knee disability.

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

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The evidence does not show any instability or significant functional loss due to pain.