Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a digestive disorder and right knee condition were denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to his military service. The Board has ordered further development, including medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected status post total right knee arthroplasty is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his knee disabilities and left ankle osteoarthritis, as well as service connection for a urinary disorder. The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the knee disabilities at the May 2013 hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee strain and whether he has right knee arthritis related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee condition and low back condition are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and any relevant SSA disability benefits records. He will also be afforded VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as his neck, arthritis, leg and knee, and back disorders.

The Veteran seeks an increase in the rating for his service-connected left knee disability, rated at 30 percent combined. The case is REMANDED to obtain updated treatment records and arrange for a VA examination by an orthopedic specialist to assess the severity of the disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee DJD did not manifest in service or within one year of discharge from active duty, and the preponderance of the evidence reflects that it is not attributable to service.

The persuasive evidence of record demonstrates that throughout the course of the appeal, the Veteran's left knee disability has been manifest by some pain and limitation of flexion without more severe limitations. The current range of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and remanded it for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee disabilities, allergies, skin disorders, hypertension, general malaise, and a drastic change in weight and appearance due to an undiagnosed illness are all denied.,There is no competent evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a medical examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking his in-service injury to his present condition.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for symptomatic removal of the semilunar cartilage in the left knee as of February 17, 2012. The Veteran's chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis and medial meniscal tear was previously evaluated at 10 percent based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities due to recent symptomatology, including bilateral knee swelling and pain. The case will be adjudicated again after the examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's freestanding claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of an increased rating of 20 percent for a right knee disability, as it is barred by law due to the one-year appellate period following the July 1997 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO in Oakland, California.

The case is being remanded for a current VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, including range of motion and any additional functional loss due to pain or instability. The rating will be readjudicated after this.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for left knee disability and granted service connection based on evidence showing a current diagnosis of left knee osteoarthritis that is related to his military service.