Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's nonservice-connected right knee disability and psychiatric disorder are considered permanent and total, meeting the criteria for pension benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee strain and lumbar myofasciitis (back disability) have been denied.,A rating in excess of 10% for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the appellant's preexisting condition was aggravated by injury during active duty. The claim is reopened and service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary due to the lack of a VA examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current knee disability. The case is REMANDED for a VA examination and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal for all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his left knee and shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this case as he passed away before a decision could be made.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the right knee disability, peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral hearing loss disability claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his right and left knee disabilities, as well as potential SSA records. The automobile and adaptive equipment claim and SMC claim are also inextricably intertwined with these service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis and avascular necrosis of the left knee, right hip, and left hip did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, bilateral hip, and low back disabilities. The preponderance of the evidence shows that these conditions did not manifest during or as a result of his military service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including ratings for PTSD, anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition with osteoarthritis and scars, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. The case is being remanded to schedule the Veteran for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (other than substance-induced anxiety disorder). The claim for left elbow disability was not reopened. Service connection on direct incurrence basis is legally precluded.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling for arthritis, but the Court has directed a review of Diagnostic Codes 5258 and 5259 to determine if separate ratings are warranted due to symptoms related to meniscal injury.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disability and denied entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The right knee increased rating claim was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, ankle disorders, knee disorders, hip disorders, and psychiatric and gastrointestinal issues, were denied as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's orthopedic disorders, including meralgia paresthesia of the left leg/thigh and osteoarthritis of the left knee, chronic muscular strain of the cervical spine, chronic muscular strain of the AC joint, and chronic muscular strain superimposed on degenerative instability of the lumbar spine, were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board finds that these conditions are less likely than not related to service.

The Board has determined that it is as likely as not that the Veteran's right knee disorder is aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability that is caused by his active military service or proximately due to a service-connected left knee disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.