Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral joint syndromes were granted separate compensable ratings for painful limitation of motion due to arthritis. The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD was granted a non-compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right or left knee condition related to his military service and therefore denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been granted initial compensable ratings, with the exception of his cervical spine disability which has not met the criteria for a higher rating since December 29, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right patellofemoral pain syndrome. However, it granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder with sleep and memory problems.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his service-connected conditions have been granted and are set at 10 percent each, effective the day after his discharge from active service in April 2008.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a left knee disability. The current conditions are related to in-service injuries or exposure.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted effective October 28, 2003. The earliest date of entitlement to TDIU is more than one year prior to the date of claim.

Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis/osteoarthritis of the right knee.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for proximal tibial stress fractures of the left knee with osteoarthritis is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected right hip disability is not shown to have caused or aggravated his current knee disorders. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are related to his service-connected right hip disability.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of her service-connected disabilities on her ability to engage in substantially gainful employment. The TDIU claim will be readjudicated after all development.

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's right knee disability, finding that it is directly related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and conduct examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's low back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities are related to service.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current right knee disorder is related to his military service, specifically his MOS as a construction man and lineman climbing poles. The Veteran also testified about swelling in his knees at night, which needs to be evaluated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea disorder is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of sleep apnea and established continuity of symptomatology since service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disabilities. After considering all of the evidence, including a private medical opinion linking the current conditions to his in-service injury, the Board finds that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current left knee disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied both claims.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and left shoulder disabilities are related to his active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.