Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran incurred a right knee disorder during service, and therefore grants service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of cold injury to the bilateral feet, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are consistent with his active duty service in Korea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic left knee or left ankle disability that is related to active service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorders, left shoulder injury, neck injury, right knee injury, and left knee injury were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, characterized as degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims seeking increased ratings for pustular acne and Baker's cysts in the left knee have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, tinnitus, right knee disorders, and bilateral hearing loss, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an orthopedic examination to assess the severity of his service-connected knee disabilities and any related instability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to insufficient evidence to decide the applicable theories of service connection for varicose veins and left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder, left knee disorder, and bilateral foot disorder were not incurred or aggravated during his period of active service.,There is no evidence in the record to support a finding that any current disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as his symptoms did not warrant an increased rating beyond 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an extraschedular evaluation for the period from January 12 to February 13, 2006 was denied as his disability picture did not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation greater than 30 percent for postoperative residuals of a total left knee replacement since April 1, 2007 was also denied. The evidence showed no severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle disorder, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, an acquired psychiatric disorder (cyclothymic disorder), and a bilateral shoulder disorder are being remanded due to new evidence received since the last final decision. The claim for increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for proximal tibial stress fractures of the left knee with osteoarthritis is dismissed.,The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral ankle disorder, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, an acquired psychiatric disorder (cyclothymic disorder), and a bilateral shoulder disorder are being remanded. The claim for increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for proximal tibial stress fractures of the left knee with osteoarthritis is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, but the Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating based on current evidence of record.

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

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a left knee disability that manifested during, or as a result of, active military service and it is not caused by or permanently aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right leg, knee, hip, and back disabilities are not related to his service-connected residuals of a right ankle abrasion. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left knee disability is found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis. The low back disability claim is denied as there is no current evidence of a low back condition.