Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his right knee disability.

The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and his claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and considering all evidence added since the last statement of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for labral tear of the left shoulder. The decision concluded that there was no evidence to support a finding that current disability is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for medical examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected low back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by arthritis and instability, is currently rated at 10 percent under the appropriate diagnostic codes. The evidence does not support a higher rating as there are no indications of ankylosis, dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent locking or effusion, malunion or nonunion of the tibia and fibula, or genu recurvatum.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right knee and/or right ankle disorders are related to his active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing right knee disability existed prior to service and did not undergo aggravation during service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claimed memory loss and myalgias/arthralgias were not found to be related to his military service, including exposure to the Persian Gulf War environment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's residuals of pneumonia are not related to service, and thus denied. The claims for right TKA, left TKA, and right leg injury are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right knee disability is at least as likely as not related to his service, including an injury sustained while playing football in 1958. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case as there are no remaining issues to be decided.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to questions regarding the exact nature and etiology of certain disabilities, including pharyngitis/sinusitis, thoracolumbar spine disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran is requested to provide information about his treatment at a private medical facility.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension and an increased evaluation for his right knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to determine their current severity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability was not present until more than one year following his discharge from service and is not etiologically related to service. Therefore, the criteria for service connection are not met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and dementia), finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors are supported by credible evidence and his current PTSD diagnosis is related to these events. The left knee disability was not incurred during service.

Effective September 20, 2001, the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees were granted. The effective dates are earlier than previously assigned.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities have been rated based on the severity of her symptoms and impairment, with no additional rating granted for instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for any of the conditions he is seeking service connection for, and therefore, these claims are denied.