Knee decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain a VA examination and opinion regarding the relationship of his current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure all necessary development has been completed.

The Board found no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current right knee disability and his service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for an award of TDIU prior to his knee replacement surgery, and from the period beginning January 1, 2017. The case is referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's right and left knee conditions are currently rated at 30 percent each, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board finds that there is no evidence of ankylosis, recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, cartilage damage, or tibia and fibula impairment to warrant a higher evaluation.

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

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee pain and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's other claims for joint pain, brain tumor, shoulder condition, and heart condition are not addressed as they are combined with the reopening of the knee pain claim.

The Board found no evidence of a right knee injury during service and concluded that the Veteran's current right knee disorder is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral knee, finding that her current disability is related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, allergic rhinitis, heart murmur, mitral valve prolapse, and right knee pain are denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during his military service or otherwise related to such service.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 0 percent since September 12, 2008. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease was rated at 20 percent effective June 8, 2012. The increased rating for sinusitis remains pending as the RO granted a 10 percent evaluation but did not address higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, right knee, and right wrist disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted a separate 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee disability based on frequent episodes of locking, joint pain, and effusion prior to October 8, 2009.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for evaluations of subluxation of the patella in both knees have been granted, with each knee receiving a 10 percent disability rating effective June 23, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracic spine and bilateral knee disabilities are as likely as not related to his service, including heavy loads he carried during training. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected residuals of ingrown toenails, left great toe and hypertension. The rating for chondromalacia, status post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with residual scars, left knee remains at 10 percent.