Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10% prior to July 13, 2015 and increased to 20% from that date. The claims for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral cataracts were denied as there is no evidence of service connection or secondary relationship.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current left knee condition and his military service. The effective date and initial rating claims are also pending.

The Veteran's chronic mechanical low back syndrome was caused by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right foot disorder and knee disorders, were denied as the evidence did not establish that these conditions are related to his active duty service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Board denied increased initial evaluations for the Veteran's left knee flexion and extension, finding that his disability did not warrant ratings higher than 10 percent and 20 percent respectively.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, knee disability, low back disability, and lower leg disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, left hip, and left foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence demonstrating a present disability or in-service incurrence.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims, including an increased rating claim for his left knee disability and issues related to bilateral pes planus, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical spine disability, and lumbar strain. The case will be remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DJD of the lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.,The claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining Navy Reserve treatment records and Tricare treatment records. A new VA examination is also needed.

The Veteran seeks service connection for patellar tendinosis of his left knee, which he contends is related to a prior injury during service and worsened by his service-connected right knee condition. The Board finds the existing medical opinion inadequate and remands the case for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for acne, but did not address other issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding no current diagnosis and concluding that his reported symptoms do not constitute a disability. The appeal to reopen the previously denied claim was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected knee disabilities and consideration of entitlement to a TDIU prior to August 1, 2011.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating based on limitation of flexion to 30 degrees. The Veteran was granted a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.