Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee patella femoral degenerative joint disease is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability and granted this claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examiner's opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current left knee disorder and his military service. The claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left knee disability from July 1997 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of instability or significant limitation in range of motion, and thus, no higher rating could be assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since March 19, 2008.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus and a right knee disability, as well as his attempts to reopen claims for left ear hearing loss and left knee disabilities. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were related to service or any other service-connected condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and a history of meniscus repair, was evaluated as 20 percent disabling since December 1, 2010. The VA examiner found the Veteran had limited motion and pain in his left knee.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen her claims for service connection for schizoaffective disorder and bilateral knee disorder as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a hearing, which cannot be conducted at the Newark RO as he is incarcerated. The case will be returned to the Board after efforts are made to arrange an appropriate hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his current disabilities are related to service, including exposure to combat.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is directly related to his active duty service. The issue of secondary service connection for the right knee disability due to a service-connected left knee condition will also be addressed.

The Veteran's subdural hematoma, secondary to her service-connected left knee disability, is granted. She also has a temporary total rating for hospitalization due to the surgery.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome at the January 2012 Board video conference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his authorized representative, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, evaluated as 30 percent disabling since April 1, 2012, is granted. The appeal for higher ratings on other periods of time and for a separate rating for the right ankle disability is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's current left knee disability, including a strain and fracture, is considered to be related to his military service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and to obtain a comprehensive medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his neurological residuals associated with a history of a fracture of the left elbow.

The Veteran's service-connected DJD of the left knee is currently rated at 10 percent, effective from November 16, 2009. The Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence.