Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inconsistencies in the May 2010 VA examinations and the possibility of a claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1117 (undiagnosed illnesses).

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, which he claims is related to his in-service aircraft maintenance duties. The case has been remanded due to the Veteran's request for rescheduling of his videoconference hearing.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including several orthopedic conditions and bipolar disorder, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and left knee disability. For the gastrointestinal disorder, the Veteran's current condition is not related to his exposure to contaminated water during service or otherwise. For the left knee disability, additional development is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of worsening since the last examination.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his right knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent from May 1, 2008 to December 29, 2015 and did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent since December 29, 2015.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for the claimed right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, frostbite residuals of the left nipple, or frostbite residuals of the right nipple. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing the claims file to determine if his lumbar spine, bilateral knee, right hip, right ankle, and right foot disorders are related to service or service-connected left ankle and foot disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied for his lumbar spine and right knee disabilities, but granted a compensable rating (30%) for arthritis of the right knee after January 1, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability due to inadequate examination findings. The case is now pending with the RO for further development.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including post-operative partial knee replacement surgery, warrants a rating of 30 percent from February 1, 2011 through March 2, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left knee pain and joint pain conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, prior to April 2, 2012, is rated at 10% for degenerative joint disease. Effective June 1, 2013, he was granted a 30% rating for post-operative residuals of total knee replacement. The left knee disability remains denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed back, knee, ankle, and heel conditions as well as headaches. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The VA determined that there is no competent and credible evidence establishing a current right knee condition, thus denying the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee chondromalacia and found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of left knee chondromalacia was incurred in service. The issue of an increased rating for right foot great toe osteoarthritis is remanded due to a lack of recent VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee arthritis, bilateral elbow and hand arthritis, back disability, bilateral ankle arthritis, lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and dental trauma. The appeals were based on a claim of cold weather injury during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and right axilla phlebitis are denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities during the period of the claim.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, or bilateral hip disorder. The claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disorder is denied as there is no direct evidence linking it to military service.