Knee Board decisions

The Board found that the July 24, 1981 motor vehicle accident was not in the line of duty due to the Appellant's willful misconduct. Therefore, service connection for neck disability, back disability, right knee disability, and PTSD is denied.

The Board is remanding the case to allow for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the VA RO located in Connecticut. The Veteran's claims folder will be returned to the Board after completion of this action.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The Board also finds that his claimed foot disorders, low back disorder, hip disorder, knee disorder, and ankle disorder are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of any current right knee condition, including whether it is related to service or secondary to left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated following this development.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability, left foot disability, sinusitis, and heart disability are not related to service or service-connected conditions. The claims for these disabilities were denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability is found to be service-connected, while the claims for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back disorder, and there is no evidence of arthritis within one year post-service. Therefore, service connection for a low back disorder cannot be granted.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease and chondromalacia have been rated at 20 percent, the maximum under Diagnostic Code 5258 for frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudicative action, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's July 2007 and December 2007 left knee surgeries are causally related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for migraine headaches and right knee degeneration of the meniscus have been granted, but his left great toe gout evaluation remains noncompensable. Service connection has not been established for an allergy and sinus condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee and back disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his left ankle disability and service connection for a left knee condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board finds that arthritis of the left knee is etiologically related to active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to additional development needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, lower back disability, and left knee disability. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that these disabilities are related to service or any other service-connected condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee condition and granted it, finding that new evidence supports the claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left knee and lumbar spine disorders are secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by pain and weakness but not limited flexion or extension beyond the specified criteria, does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder, left knee, and right ankle disabilities have been granted. However, the initial compensable ratings requested for these conditions were denied.