Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his low back disability, were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The medical evidence does not support a finding of chronicity within one year post-service for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent during the relevant rating periods.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his lumbosacral spine and right knee disabilities were granted, but the rating for his lumbosacral spine was found to be inadequate.

The Veteran's claim for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant was denied as she does not meet the criteria for assistance due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a procedural issue regarding the reimbursement of CRDP withholdings from July to September 2014. The Board will provide an opportunity for the Veteran to file a Substantive Appeal and address this issue.

The Veteran's right and left knee conditions have been rated at 10 percent for traumatic arthritis, but the VA has granted increased ratings to 20 percent each based on additional functional loss due to pain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is not related to his active duty service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's claimed bilateral knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a right knee injury and granted it, finding new and material evidence to support the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulation and his left knee disability is not shown to be caused or aggravated by service-connected right knee disability. Therefore, the claims for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis of the knees, is not related to his military service. The examiner concluded that the condition was less likely than not incurred in or caused by a right knee injury during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining information about his medical training and experience as an optometry technician. The VA will also schedule the Veteran for a VA orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the criteria for service connection, a rating in excess of 10 percent for right patella tendon repair (knee), and a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain (back) have not been met during the period on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder on the basis that there is no evidence of any right knee condition during service or within one year post-service, and no competent evidence linking current arthritis to service.

The Veteran's left knee loss of extension is rated at 40 percent, effective August 1, 2007. The rating for the period prior to November 28, 2011, was increased from 10 percent to 30 percent.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was caused in part by his service-connected lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left knee disabilities. The Board has granted the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-operative residuals of left medial meniscectomy with chondromalacia, is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The right knee instability (chondromalacia) is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after his period of active duty and are not related to any incident in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence being added to the claims file and incomplete examination results. The Veteran's left shoulder disability may be related to service, but this needs further clarification from a medical opinion.