Knee decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder other than PTSD is not related to service, and his cervical spine and left knee disorders are not related to service.,Service connection was denied for all three issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his sleep apnea, right knee disability, and right hip disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis, did not manifest to a degree of 10 percent disabling or more within one year from his separation from service and there is no evidence of any continuity of related symptomatology after service. The Board also found that the medical evidence does not establish a nexus between the disability and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent prior to September 30, 2016. From September 30, 2016, the ratings were increased to 20 percent for each knee.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for his right knee condition was increased to 10 percent effective May 31, 2007. The appeal is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and is therefore dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability and determine appropriate rating based on limitation of motion and instability/patellar subluxation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining records from the New Jersey Division of Workers' Compensation. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending and will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including a history of injury in service and subsequent surgeries, is found to be related to his active duty. The Veteran does not have any other claimed disabilities that are service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities are related to his military service. The Veteran's lumbago is found to be aggravated by his left ankle disability, while his left knee and left ankle disabilities are found to be causally related to events during his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the issue of service connection for a left knee injury is not resolved. The Veteran's claim for this condition remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability and an initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence to support a nexus between his current disabilities and service. The Veteran's claim for increased rating was also denied as there is no basis for a higher evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right lateral epicondylitis (elbow disability), right shoulder rotator cuff disability, and a right ankle disability. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left ear hearing loss, a back disorder, bilateral upper and lower extremity numbness, chronic migraines, anxiety and depressive disorders, and bilateral hip and knee disorders. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis and headaches, right knee disorder, or left knee disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his right knee, left knee, and left ankle disabilities as secondary to a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability is also denied.

The Veteran's left knee replacement has been rated at 30 percent since the July 2010 rating decision. The Board found that his symptoms warranted a higher rating, but denied the claim as of August 31, 2011.