Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher rating for the Veteran's right knee disability, as well as the service connection claims for disabilities of the left knee and low back. The AOJ must review additional pertinent evidence and readjudicate the claims in accordance with the new examination results.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and development due to issues with scheduling at his prison facility.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability, along with other disabilities, renders him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is related to his in-service injury and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of chronic knee symptoms during service or within one year post-service, and the VA examiner opined that the current bilateral knee disorders are less likely than not related to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has reopened the claims and granted service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disorders based on continuity of symptomatology since service separation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for his service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board finds that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to his in-service ACDUTRA injury, and his right knee disorder is secondary to his lumbar spine disability. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to both issues.

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

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's right knee conditions were caused or aggravated by his service, and it is less likely than not that they were caused or aggravated beyond their normal progression by his service-connected left ankle condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right knee, left knee, or left shoulder disability related to service. The skin disorder claim is also denied as there is no evidence of a current condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is service connected, and he is granted an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability. The left knee disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus was related to his active duty service and granted service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back and right knee disorders are not service-connected as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or post-service continuity of symptoms. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to arthritis.

The Board found no evidence of a left knee or left foot disability during service, and the VA examiner opined that any current osteochondral defect in the left knee is not related to service. The Veteran's large heel callous was also deemed unrelated to service.,There is no documented in-service injury or complaint regarding the Veteran's feet. The VA examiner concluded that his foot numbness during service was due to radiculopathy, and thus not related to any current callous.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining in-service treatment records and providing a new opinion on the etiology of his knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examination and development of records, particularly related to the Veteran's left knee strain.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings for a right knee disability before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right leg/knee disability, left knee disability, and low back disability are not service-connected.,There is no evidence of any chronic conditions in service or post-service that would support a grant of service connection for these disabilities.