Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right knee injury, a right leg disorder, and a left leg disorder. The claim for low back disorder was reopened but not adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was denied in September 1972, and the Board has now granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee.

The Veteran is not unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, low back disability, and left knee disability are not service-connected as they did not manifest within one year of separation from service or are not otherwise related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities (degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees) based on a finding that symptoms have been continuous since service separation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a vocational assessment and adjudicating the right knee sprain claim. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claim for bilateral knee disabilities remains pending as there are no in-service records documenting knee complaints.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's current left knee disability, including arthritis resulting in total knee replacement, is found to be related to his service-connected right knee disability due to overuse. However, the VA examiner concluded that the left knee disability is not directly related to service.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service. The Board finds that the Veteran's current right knee disorder was not incurred during his military service.,There is no evidence of a sexually transmitted disease (likely syphilis) residuals within one year after discharge from service. The post-service VA treatment records do not show any residuals of these diseases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, as well as his bilateral vision impairment (due to refractive errors), are related to service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is found to have developed during his active service, warranting service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis is related to his active service and grants this claim. The issues of asthma and right shoulder condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to schedule a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, conduct VA examinations for his obstructive sleep apnea and right knee disability, and to ensure all due process considerations are met.

The Board has remanded the case for issuance of a Statement of the Case and readjudication of the claims on appeal, including whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and hepatitis C.

The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as residuals of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with meniscal tear status post arthroscopic reconstruction, has been evaluated under Diagnostic Code 5258 for dislocated semilunar cartilage. The Board finds a rating of 20 percent is more nearly approximated for the Veteran's left knee disability due to frequent episodes of locking and pain. A separate 10 percent rating is also granted for lateral instability of the left knee under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the initial compensable rating for right knee strain.

The Board has restored the 10 percent rating for right hip and knee pain effective October 1, 2002. For the entire appeal period, a 10 percent rating is assigned for both the right hip and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability has not manifested in ankylosis, recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, flexion functionally limited to less than 100 degrees, extension functionally limited to 10 degrees or more, impairment of the tibia and fibula, or genu recurvatum. The Veteran’s left knee disability does not warrant a higher rating prior to April 22, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to service, and thus grants his claim for service connection.