Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, neuropathy of the left leg, and a left knee disability. The reasons are provided in the decision summary.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the ratings for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and chronic low back strain prior to October 26, 2015. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain a new VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, as well as to consider whether secondary service connection is warranted.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated as 10% disabling based on limitation of motion. The VA examinations did not provide sufficient information to grant higher ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or symptomatology related to his current right knee conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee condition was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability, nor may its incurrence or aggravation be presumed. Therefore, service connection for the left knee condition was denied.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration.

The Veteran's asthma was found to have existed prior to service and not aggravated by service. The left knee disability is denied as well, with the Veteran scheduled for a VA examination to determine its current severity.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection and increased ratings.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's low back, bilateral hip, and left knee disabilities are being remanded for additional examination and opinion regarding their relationship to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral knee disability and neurological disability of the bilateral lower extremities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee strain and hypertension, finding no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The claim for right ear hearing loss was also denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals, left knee injury, to include osteoarthritis and meniscectomy, are not etiologically related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of her service-connected right knee disability and additional development of her claims file.

The Board has found that additional development is required before the claims on appeal are decided, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hip, knee, and ankle disabilities remain inextricably intertwined with the issue of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of right hip, right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities are not related to his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in 1968. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.