Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ear condition, left knee condition, and prostate cancer. The denial is based on the lack of evidence showing a direct relationship to service.

The Board denied service connection for myopia, cervical dysplasia, and right knee disorder due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is not shown to be associated with service, including as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities, including those involving undiagnosed illnesses, are not shown to be related to her active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability, characterized as degenerative arthritis, does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right and left knee disabilities are not related to her military service, and thus denied her claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis with chronic tear of the medial meniscus is rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and thus denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus is remanded for issuance of a statement of the case.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to assess the cumulative effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability, given his level of education in nursing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip, left knee, bilateral pes planus, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities. The effective date was not addressed as this is an original claim filed by the Veteran.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral ankle and knee disabilities are not related to his service, including a motor vehicle accident during ACDUTRA. The VA examinations do not support a direct relationship between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The other service-connected conditions are not entitled to higher ratings.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been evaluated as 10 percent disabling throughout the rating period. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for left leg, neck, right leg, bilateral knee, and hypertension disorders were previously denied. New evidence has been submitted to reopen the neck disorder claim, but service connection is not granted. The right leg and bilateral knee disorder claims are also reopened, but no service connection is granted. The hypertension claim is reopened, but no service connection is granted.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's left knee disability to his service or any incident therein, and concluded that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board also determined that the left knee disability is not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected right knee strain.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's current diagnosis of sleep apnea is found to have its onset during active service, and he was treated for symptoms of snoring and cessation of breathing while in service. Service connection is granted for sleep apnea. The Board also finds that the Veteran has a left knee scar status post cyst removal and facial scars as a result of acne vulgaris which had its onset during active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that no new and material evidence was presented.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection and a 30 percent disability evaluation for right knee degenerative joint disease was dismissed as he did not file a timely Substantive Appeal.