Knee Board decisions

The Board has found that the Veteran's sinusitis is attributable to service and granted her claim for service connection.

The Board has restored the previous 30 percent disability rating for right knee degenerative joint disease due to actual improvement in the Veteran's condition, contrary to the RO's reduction decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete or insufficient opinions from the VA examiners regarding the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disability, hypertension, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic knee disability during service or for many years after service. The Veteran's current knee disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to procedural issues and need for clarification of medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability and obtain outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and severity of his lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed thoracolumbar spine, right knee, and left leg disabilities are not service-connected as they were either not present during active service or did not manifest within one year of service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board finds the Veteran's current left knee disability is not the result of a disease or injury in active service, and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular rating requirement for assignment of a TDIU and he is reasonably shown to be unable to secure or follow a substantial gainful occupation as a result of these disabilities. The claim for increase in left shoulder disability remains pending.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 20 percent since July 31, 2009. The Veteran's right shoulder scar has been rated at 10 percent effective from August 19, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis is as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to evaluate the current severity of the service-connected left knee disability and compliance with 38 C.F.R. � 4.59.

The Veteran's current right knee disability is causally related to his service-connected left knee disability, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated as 20 percent for semilunar cartilage dislocation with episodes of locking and pain since July 13, 2009, and an additional 10 percent for slight lateral instability since July 21, 2010. The rating is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings prior to November 1, 2012 were denied as his right leg radiculopathy did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a left knee disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between the Veteran's current left knee condition and his service-connected right knee disability. The stomach disability is also found to be secondary to medications used for treatment of service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for depression was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has ordered additional development of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and foot disabilities due to missing VA examination reports and treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain updated private treatment records related to her feet and knees, as well as any relevant VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's claim is therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral knee disability has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of his claim.