Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding no evidence linking current disabilities to service or post-service treatment records.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was found to be caused by his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and the Board granted service connection for this condition. The service-connection claim for a left hip disability is being remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle sprain, with an effective date of December 28, 2009. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a right leg scar were also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is related to service, while his bilateral knee disorder is not. The decision is mixed as it grants one claim and denies another.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings, reopening of service connection claims, and secondary service connection were denied. The right knee condition remains rated at 10 percent, tinnitus is assigned the maximum schedular evaluation, and no new evidence was received to reopen hearing loss, headaches, or left carpal tunnel syndrome claims.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee strain post ligament repair and completion of a VA Form 21-8940 (Veteran's Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability).

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and a degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's current disabilities are not considered presumptively related due to lack of continuity or within one year post-service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further evidence is needed to determine if the current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The VA medical expert concluded that none of the Veteran's service-connected conditions were risk factors for his death.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records related to the Veteran's hypertension and left knee disorder. The appeal will be remanded for further consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's current disabilities are deemed to be directly related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of records.

The Veteran's current right shoulder, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities are found to be proximately caused by his service-connected right foot, left foot, and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has decided the appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for migraine headaches and right knee disability, as well as his claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated as 10 percent prior to June 12, 2009. The Board found that the evidence did not show symptoms approximating more than malunion of the tibia and fibula with slight knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee DJD was rated at 30 percent from May 1, 2007 to February 18, 2009. The rating period is limited by the Court's Order.

The Board found that the reduction of the disability rating for right knee laxity from 30 percent to zero percent, effective April 1, 2010 was proper. The Veteran's right knee laxity is now rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, but his bilateral knee disorder is not. The claim for a bilateral knee disorder is denied.