Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right and left knee retropatellar pain syndromes are each rated at 10 percent, based on painful motion. The appeal is granted for both knees.

The Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis have been granted with a separate 30% rating. The remaining issues, including the reopened back and right knee claims, were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee chondromalacia and skin conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities do not warrant ratings greater than 10 percent under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to address the severity of his right and left knee disabilities, to include all orthopedic and neurological manifestations. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities were not incurred in service or caused by his service-connected cold injury residuals, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis, status post medial meniscus tear after February 4, 2015 has been productive of painful motion but with full extension and flexion to 55 degrees. The Board determined that the appropriate rating for the entire period prior to February 2015 should have been 10 percent. However, the Board denied an increased rating for the period after February 4, 2015.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and a back disorder. The case will be returned to the Louisville RO for further action.

The Veteran's abdominal scar and residuals from an accidental stab wound are rated as noncompensable, but the Veteran is not entitled to service connection for his pancreatitis, right knee condition, left knee condition, broken right ankle, broken right leg, or cervical arthritis.,There is no evidence of a current disability related to service-connected conditions that would support secondary service connection for any of these issues.

The Veteran's left knee disorder was reopened due to new evidence showing in-service injury and subsequent treatment.,Service connection for a respiratory disorder (seasonal allergic rhinitis) is granted.

The Veteran's right and left elbow conditions are found to be related to his in-service automobile accident, resulting in service connection.,The Veteran's right and left knee conditions are found to be related to his in-service automobile accident, resulting in service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his military service or any presumptive exposure. The VA examinations and medical records do not provide sufficient evidence to establish a direct link between the current diagnoses and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are not related to service, while his tinnitus is established as present.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, left ankle, and lung/respiratory conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or objective indications of chronic disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for a left knee disability, including as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's functional gastrointestinal disorder, including IBS and ulcerative colitis, was incurred during service. The Board granted service connection for this condition but dismissed the remaining issues due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral wrist and knee disorders have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request to terminate his appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn. The claims of vision loss, right ankle disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, headaches, hearing loss, sleep apnea, Gulf War syndrome, deviated septum, and cystitis are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left knee disorder, and right knee degenerative joint disease (including DM) and sleep apnea. The Veteran's obesity was found to be a substantial factor in the development of these conditions.