Knee Board decisions

The case is being remanded for further development and adjudication due to the need to obtain VA records from 1978. The claims will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left knee is at least as likely as not related to his history of left knee injury in service, and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and chronic headaches are not related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing right knee arthritis was not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right knee injury prior to January 22, 2002 was denied. However, the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent since January 22, 2002 was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not proximately due to, or the result of, a service-connected disability. The left knee disability claim has been reopened but remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and left knee disabilities, as well as an increased rating for lumbar spine disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity in service or at any point after service. The current disabilities are not related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since its initial grant. The RO found that the Veteran's right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for bipolar disorder and to reopen his claim for right ear infection. The issues of service connection for left knee disability and bilateral eye infections have been remanded.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his right knee disability was denied, and the denial of reopening a previously denied left knee disability claim is final.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims for the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for sacroiliac dysfunction with sacral strain, service connection for a respiratory condition as due to undiagnosed illness, service connection for a right knee condition to include surgical scar and service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for a disability manifested by sensitive feet, right ankle disability, bilateral knee disability, weight gain, sleep disorder, and psychiatric disorder (change in character) to obtain additional medical opinions.,The Board is also remanding the issues of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for a right leg disability and a back disability as secondary to a right leg disability.,The Board is requesting that VA obtain relevant treatment records, including those from February 2011 to June 2011.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Veteran's nerve disorder of the left leg is found to be at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The appeal for an increased rating of the left knee disability was withdrawn prior to decision.

The Veteran's right knee disorder, characterized by arthritis with recurrent effusion, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as of January 23, 2005. The evidence shows that her range of motion is limited but does not warrant an increased rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is not service-connected, while his left knee disability has been granted a 20% rating effective April 6, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and other conditions based on in-service exposure to noise and physical trauma. The Veteran's current symptoms are consistent with his reported history of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee osteoarthritis is not related to his in-service injury, and thus he cannot establish service connection for this condition. The right knee disorder was also denied as it is not shown to be causally linked to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and right knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his time in military service.