Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for his left foot disability is withdrawn. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on the service-connected disabilities, including those of the right knee and left foot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left or right knee disability that was incurred during his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an updated VA examination and ensuring compliance with the duty to assist.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining his VA vocational rehabilitation folder and a comprehensive examination to assess the functional effects of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was also not granted for a heart disability as the examiner did not provide an etiological opinion on the non-specific systolic murmur.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, including whether it is related to service or aggravated by a service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, low back, and bilateral hip disorders. The decision found that the pre-existing Baker's cyst of the left knee did not increase in severity during service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, a right leg disorder, and a left leg disorder. The claim for low back disorder was reopened but not adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was denied in September 1972, and the Board has now granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee.

The Veteran is not unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disability, and left knee disability are not service-connected as they did not manifest within one year of separation from service or are not otherwise related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities (degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees) based on a finding that symptoms have been continuous since service separation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a vocational assessment and adjudicating the right knee sprain claim. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claim for bilateral knee disabilities remains pending as there are no in-service records documenting knee complaints.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's current left knee disability, including arthritis resulting in total knee replacement, is found to be related to his service-connected right knee disability due to overuse. However, the VA examiner concluded that the left knee disability is not directly related to service.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service. The Board finds that the Veteran's current right knee disorder was not incurred during his military service.,There is no evidence of a sexually transmitted disease (likely syphilis) residuals within one year after discharge from service. The post-service VA treatment records do not show any residuals of these diseases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, as well as his bilateral vision impairment (due to refractive errors), are related to service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is found to have developed during his active service, warranting service connection.