Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders, variously diagnosed, are proximately due to or caused by his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is also found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral elbow and knee disabilities are not service-connected as they do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA law or regulations. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation, nor is there objective medical evidence showing chronicity within one year post-service.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's right knee disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for a right knee disability secondary to the service-connected status post medial meniscectomy of the left knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Osgood-Schlatter disease and left knee degenerative arthritis are causally related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding no current disabilities or evidence of in-service injury. The Veteran was also denied service connection for a cracked facial bone under the right eye.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examination of his right knee, specifically regarding range of motion testing in active and passive motion, weight-bearing, and nonweight-bearing. The case will be re-adjudicated after this.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right and left knee disabilities prior to specific dates have been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left and right knee disabilities are not etiologically related to her military service, nor were they caused or aggravated by any of her service-connected conditions. As a result, she was denied service connection for both knees.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability is not service-connected as it is considered a refractive error, which is not a disease or injury for VA purposes. The right knee arthritis was also not incurred in service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for mechanical low back pain with facet arthropathy at L5-S1 was denied, but the Board granted a higher 40 percent rating effective October 18, 2012. The TDIU issue is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a link between his current conditions and active service or secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorder, specifically arthritis, is service-connected. For his obstructive lung disease claim, a VA examination was requested to determine if it had its onset during any period of service or is otherwise related to such periods.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of her service connection claims, including a medical review to determine the nature and onset of her musculoskeletal disorders.