Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's low back, bilateral hip and left knee disabilities are not service connected as they did not manifest in service or within one year of separation. The VA examiners found no evidence that the current conditions were caused by his service-connected right knee disability.,The Veteran's right knee DJD is currently rated at 40 percent based on limitation of motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis with total knee replacement, including secondary to a service connected left knee disability. The evidence submitted was found to be cumulative and not material.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left leg disability and finds that new evidence submitted since the last final denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The case is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from the VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's current left knee and left leg disabilities are related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has granted a clothing allowance for the year 2014 due to wear and tear on the Veteran's clothing caused by his service-connected knee braces and wrist splints, despite the VAMC finding that there were no exposed metal or plastic inserts in the braces.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease and dislocated semilunar cartilage (meniscus injury) are both service-connected, with the meniscus condition receiving a higher initial rating of 20 percent due to frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion.

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

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including shell fragment wounds and psychiatric disorders, are granted. The Board finds that the Veteran engaged in combat with the enemy and his reported injuries during service are credible.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not aggravated by his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine, low back, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right knee disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and back disabilities are related to his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities make him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection. The left knee disabilities are also denied as there was no evidence of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right knee disability. The appeal is currently remanded due to issues with scheduling an appropriate examination.

The Board is remanding the case for further proceedings due to a lack of retrospective medical evidence and for consideration of the Veteran's TDIU claim in conjunction with his right knee rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations or earlier effective dates have been withdrawn. The claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's left knee conditions have been granted increased ratings, and a TDIU has been granted effective from June 30, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the claims of service connection for a left knee disorder and increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of right knee meniscectomy, arthritis, and instability have all been denied by the Board. The highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 5259 is a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's sleep apnea, hypertension, and bilateral knee disorders are not related to his military service. The claims for these conditions were denied.