Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current knee and neck disabilities. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, complete release forms for any private treatment providers, and undergo VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the Veteran's left knee disability. The appeal is now pending and will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease is related to service and grants service connection for left and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the severity and etiology of his service-connected right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to outstanding service treatment records and the need for additional medical examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current respiratory disability, claimed as COPD, is not service-connected. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his present condition was incurred or aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's current left leg RSD is at least as likely as not the result of an in-service event or injury, to include as secondary to her service-connected left knee disability. The Board grants service connection for left leg RSD.

The Veteran does not have a current right knee disability or tinnitus.,There is no medical evidence linking the Veteran's low back disability to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability, and thus the claim is granted.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of his right knee strain and left knee condition, status post meniscectomy with arthritis and limited range of motion are denied as there is no evidence of a claim prior to February 17, 2010.

The Veteran's right knee disability is found to be related to an in-service injury, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is remanded due to lack of an examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability, as the December 2011 VA examination may not have accurately reflected the extent of his symptoms and limitations.

The Veteran's left knee disability, specifically degenerative arthritis, has been rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the current rating is appropriate based on the flexion and extension limitations not meeting higher criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records, and a new orthopedic examination to assess his service-connected knee disability.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral knee and hearing loss disabilities to his service, including multiple parachute jumps. The claim for a bilateral knee disability was denied as there is no probative evidence showing that the condition manifested within one year of separation from active duty. The claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability will be remanded due to inadequate audiological examination.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for right knee disability, bilateral wrist disability and bilateral ankle disability. The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability was granted service connection based on degenerative arthritis, but his right knee and bilateral wrist disabilities were not established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found the VA examiner's opinion regarding the right knee condition to be lacking in sufficient information to adjudicate the claim, as no baseline level of severity could be identified.,The Veteran's service-connected left ankle condition is not considered to have caused or aggravated his right ankle condition beyond its natural progression.