Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a lumbar spine disability, were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions in the medical records provided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left knee disability. The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and will provide an opportunity for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The claim was reopened based on additional evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including subluxation and dislocation of the patella, had its onset during active duty and is related to service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, right knee instability, and right knee painful motion was denied. The RO also did not assign a compensable rating for right knee limitation of motion prior to May 25, 2011, or grant a greater than 10 percent rating from that date.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right ankle, knee, and hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development including a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and back disorders, finding new and material evidence. The conditions are considered secondary to his service-connected residuals of a right ankle fracture.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left knee patellafemoral syndrome were denied as the evidence did not show that their conditions warranted a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and bilateral knee disability were not incurred in or aggravated by service.,Service connection for tension headaches was granted, but the evaluation remains noncompensable.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fungus of the feet and toenails, a low back disability, and bilateral knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's request for a hearing has been postponed, and the case is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a video hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations to determine the etiology of his left knee disorder, low back disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee arthritis as secondary to service-connected disabilities based on aggravation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, as they only amount to a combined rating of 10 percent. The VA examinations and Social Security Administration records indicate that his employment difficulties are primarily due to non-service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder was present at the time of his above-the-right-knee amputation and is related to service. As a result, the claim for an above-the-right-knee amputation due to a right knee disorder is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected left foot disorder, low back disorder, tendonitis of the right knee, and bilateral hearing loss were granted. The initial evaluations assigned prior to February 8, 2007, for left foot disorder are 20 percent; beginning February 8, 2007, they are 10 percent. For low back disorder, the initial evaluation is 30 percent beginning March 31, 2011. The right knee tendonitis initially received a noncompensable evaluation and then a 10 percent evaluation beginning March 11, 2008; it remains at a noncompensable evaluation for hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, nor are he bedridden or housebound. Therefore, his claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disorders is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination.