Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to address his right knee disability and left knee disorder.

The Board has received notification of the appellant's withdrawal of her appeal regarding service connection for neck, back, and bilateral knee disorders. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss for VA purposes and his current right and left knee conditions are less likely than not related to service. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his patella fracture and limited extension, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, to include as secondary to his right knee disability, was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the current condition and that obesity is more likely the cause of the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for both issues prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on the issues of service connection for a back disability, left thumb disability, an initial rating greater than 10 percent for right knee arthritis, status post chondroplasty, and compensable initial ratings for right knee scar and limitation of extension.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding the appellant's claimed stressor, treatment records, and medical opinions for his low back, left knee, heart, and kidney disorders.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a chronic left leg disability other than radiculopathy, and therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining gainful employment, and grants a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate efforts in obtaining the Veteran's military medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and left shoulder disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The Board found that arthritis was not noted during service within the meaning of section 3.303(b), and that any current disability is unrelated to service.

The Veteran's knee conditions have been rated based on their current functional impairment, with the highest rating of 30% for residuals of a right knee arthroplasty from July 1, 2010 onwards.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and ensuring all requested actions are completed.

The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for bilateral foot disorder, left ankle disorder, low back disorder, and diabetes mellitus were denied. The Board found that the currently diagnosed conditions are not related to the service-connected right knee ACL repair residuals.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and arthritis of both knees are currently rated at 10 percent each, which is the maximum rating allowed under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5003. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen claims for right foot disorder and left foot disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed degenerative joint disease of the right knee, left knee, and right shoulder are not related to service and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and hip disorders are not service-connected, as they were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service.,The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Codes 5010-5271.