Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, has been granted in an August 2015 rating decision. As the issue is moot due to this grant of service connection, it is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, combined with other disabilities, does not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right knee condition, diagnosed as patella baja resulting from a delay in treatment by VA, qualifies for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that any of these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete medical records and need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her IBS, arthritis of the low back, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The appeals are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and left hip disabilities are not caused or aggravated by her service-connected right knee and back disabilities, thus denying her claims for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder. The Veteran's account of in-service stressors and symptomatology is credible and highly probative. Service connection is granted based on the presumption of soundness.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, IBS, left knee disability, right leg disability, low back disability, and sleep apnea have been denied as they are not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a member of the Board due to missed hearings and conflicting address information.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to missing documents and the need for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to a lack of consideration of weight gain during in-service convalescence and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being evaluated again with an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were denied increased ratings, with the right knee rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5260 for limitation of flexion.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee disorder did not manifest within one year of separation from service and is unrelated to his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is productive of painful limited flexion, warranting an initial compensable evaluation of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee DJD with patellar chondromalacia status post tendon rupture repair, right knee DJD with limited extension, and right patella mild subluxation did not meet the criteria for higher initial ratings through September 18, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hand disability, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral knee disability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder clearly and unmistakably existed prior to active duty service and was not aggravated by such service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a more complete opinion regarding the etiology of his knee disabilities and left femur disability. The claim for TDIU will be deferred pending completion of this development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all issues, including service connection for a left hip disability and increased ratings for various joints and hypertension. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board found no evidence of a current left knee disability, sinus disability or obstructive sleep apnea that is related to service.,Service connection was denied for all three conditions.