Knee Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee disorder was aggravated by his military service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including rating adjustments for various disabilities, an effective date claim for TDIU, and a need for additional medical examinations. The case is being remanded to obtain these necessary steps.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the right knee is proximately caused by his service-connected left knee disability and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated medical records. The current severity of his service-connected left knee disability will be assessed.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service acoustic trauma and the Board finds service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee and low back disabilities are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of a chronic ongoing condition associated with his military service. The preponderance of the evidence supports the denial of these claims.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the initial evaluations of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation as his symptoms have worsened since the last VA examination in June 2013.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective March 25, 2013. The RO granted a higher rating for PTSD and denied service connection for other conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran's current right knee arthritis is attributed to gout and aging.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including traumatic arthritis, is attributable to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided the appeal is REMANDED to obtain pre-surgery treatment records and a supplemental opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's post-operative left quadriceps tendon tear.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition as secondary to his service-connected chondromalacia patella of the left knee.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee arthritis is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased evaluations for his right knee disability and assignment of a temporary total evaluation, finding that the current functional impairment did not warrant ratings higher than the currently assigned 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knee and shoulder conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis, instability, or other factors warranting a higher rating. The current 30 percent ratings are considered appropriate based on limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral patellar chondromalacia is causally related to his service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service, and the VA examiner provided medical opinions that the claimed disabilities are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability cannot be reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim of service connection for left knee arthritis was also denied as there is no direct evidence linking the condition to military service.