Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and conducting VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a knot in the groin area was granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for chest pain, swollen tonsils, sinus disorder and left shoulder disorder were denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder. The Veteran's left knee condition is considered to be directly related to his active service, but there is no evidence showing onset during service or within one year of separation from service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, but his service-connected conditions do not warrant a higher rating. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increase in disability ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee or left ankle gout.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and for increased ratings for bilateral plantar warts, finding that there was no evidence of a direct or secondary relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, while his back and knee disabilities are not. The claim for a back disability is denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or chronic condition within one year after discharge. The claims for left and right knee disabilities are also denied due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disabilities, including retropatellar pain syndrome, anterior knee pain syndrome, and right knee tendonitis, are related to her service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee strain and service connection for a low back disability, as well as TDIU. The issues were remanded multiple times but ultimately remained denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed left knee disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

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

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities have been aggravated by his service-connected residuals of SFW to the right buttock. The case is REMANDED for this purpose.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee arthroplasty, is currently rated at 60 percent from February 1, 2008. A separate rating of 20 percent is granted for instability and recurrent subluxation since May 12, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right wrist disorder, right knee disorder, right foot disorder (including arthritis), back disorder (including arthritis), bilateral hearing loss, fungus infections of the ears, residuals of a perforated left eardrum, tonsillitis, spot on the left lung, or hemorrhoids. The skin condition is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip osteoarthritis is etiologically related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for a bilateral knee disability is addressed in the Remand section.

The Veteran's right knee scar and patellofemoral syndrome are found to be related to his service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's facial nerve weakness and right knee disorder are service-connected, with the right knee disorder receiving a separate initial rating of 10 percent.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine service connection for his bilateral foot disability and right knee disability. The claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability will also be addressed.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities have been remanded by the Board due to an inadequate VA examination report.