Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability was made permanently worse by his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left foot, and thus grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, to include as secondary to his service-connected arthritis of the back, is being remanded due to incomplete development and need for an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is found to be aggravated by his service-connected bilateral foot, right ankle, and lumbar spine disabilities. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to withdrawal. The Board granted the claim of service connection for sleep apnea, finding that current evidence was at least in equipoise with the opinion linking the condition to active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right leg shin splints, bilateral pes planus, and service connection for bilateral knee disorders. The evidence did not support reopening of the previously denied claim for bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right knee disability was withdrawn. The claim for entitlement to a compensable initial rating for healed stab wound scars of the left buttock is denied as there are no deep or nonlinear scars exceeding six square inches in size, and the scars do not involve an area of 144 square inches or greater.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling for the period prior to December 12, 2013. Effective from that date, a separate 10 percent rating has been assigned for instability of the right knee.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement residuals are manifested by severe chronic pain, limitation of motion, and weakness. The Board finds the Veteran's post-operative left knee disability most closely approximates the criteria for a 60 percent evaluation under the provisions of Diagnostic Code 5055.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's service connection claims for right knee disability and low back disability are pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for back, bilateral hip, left ankle, and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is caused or aggravated by his left knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent for osteoarthritis, effective from the date of this decision. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for a surgical scar associated with the left knee.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues of initial increased ratings for PTSD and a left knee disability are dismissed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee disorders, including total knee replacement, are not service-connected as they are a result of his pre-existing left femur fracture with resultant leg length discrepancy and do not have an onset or aggravation during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his lumbar spine disability. The initial evaluations assigned are in excess of what was previously denied. However, the appeal regarding service connection for disequilibrium resulting from acoustic trauma during active military service remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder and left knee disorders did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and are not causally related to his military service. As such, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for the Veteran's right total knee replacement, effective February 1, 2007. The Veteran is also entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.