Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for blurred vision, shortness of breath, skin disorder, and left knee degenerative joint disease. The claims were based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary to another condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected navicular fracture, right foot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, paranoid schizophrenia, and bilateral knee disability. The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or establish that the disabilities were incurred in service.,There was no evidence of compensably disabling psychiatric conditions within one year following discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 60 percent since March 29, 2011. The Board found that the residuals of his total arthroplasty prior to this date warranted a maximum rating under Diagnostic Code 5055.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee injury during service did not result in a chronic disability, and his current degenerative joint disease was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent each. The claim for a higher rating for limitation of extension of the left knee has also been granted.

The Board found that the October 1984 and October 1992 rating decisions were not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, and thus denied the Veteran's claims of CUE in these decisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his active service, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA and are not caused by a pre-existing condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left knee disability did not begin in or is aggravated by service, and was not caused by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and left knee disability were denied as the evidence did not support a current diagnosis or a link to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left knee and low back disabilities were previously denied in February 2003. New evidence submitted since then is not considered material as it does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain his complete service treatment records, verify any service in the Republic of Vietnam, and schedule appropriate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records. The issue of an increased evaluation for his right knee disorder remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for an orthopedic examination. The matter of a temporary total rating based on convalescence following left knee arthroplasty is also inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board found no evidence of chronic right and left knee disabilities, thus denying the Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions. The initial increased rating appeals for tibia disabilities were also denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee disabilities, as well as to address whether these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hip disability and an increased rating for his postoperative residuals of right knee injury. The claim for hearing loss remains unresolved.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for a right knee disability, and the Board has dismissed the appeal.