Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further evidence is needed to determine if the current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The VA medical expert concluded that none of the Veteran's service-connected conditions were risk factors for his death.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records related to the Veteran's hypertension and left knee disorder. The appeal will be remanded for further consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's current disabilities are deemed to be directly related to his active duty service.

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

The Veteran's current right shoulder, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities are found to be proximately caused by his service-connected right foot, left foot, and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has decided the appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for migraine headaches and right knee disability, as well as his claim for service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated as 10 percent prior to June 12, 2009. The Board found that the evidence did not show symptoms approximating more than malunion of the tibia and fibula with slight knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee DJD was rated at 30 percent from May 1, 2007 to February 18, 2009. The rating period is limited by the Court's Order.

The Board found that the reduction of the disability rating for right knee laxity from 30 percent to zero percent, effective April 1, 2010 was proper. The Veteran's right knee laxity is now rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, but his bilateral knee disorder is not. The claim for a bilateral knee disorder is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and updating the claims file with any outstanding records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee and shoulder disabilities. The issues include seeking higher initial ratings for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a current right or left knee disability that was initially manifested in service, within one year of separation from active duty, or caused by the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability. The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to have been incurred during service and is not presumed due to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee subluxation is rated at 20 percent from April 5, 2011 to December 3, 2013 and at 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran's right knee limitation of flexion is also rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tear and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, as well as his bilateral knee degenerative joint disease (arthritis), are related to service. The appeals for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant in a statement dated January 11, 2017.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral knee disability. The Board previously denied the claim, and the case was remanded multiple times due to incomplete development. The most recent remand required an examination considering all in-service knee injuries, including those documented in the July 1974 service treatment record.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right lower extremity disabilities, including a right knee disability and osteoarthritis in his hip, are not related to his active military service.