Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hip, right leg and knee disabilities, and low back disability are not service connected as there is no evidence of any in-service injury or disease that caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed back, neck, and right knee disorders are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and right knee disorders, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's current arthritis of multiple joints other than both knees, both shoulders, the lumbar spine, the right ankle, and the left elbow is not related to his military service or any incident therein.

The Board found that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities did not manifest within one year of service separation, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The current diagnoses are not related to his period of active duty.

The Board found that a right total knee replacement was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, may not be presumed to be and is not secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's lay assertions of noise exposure during service and continuity of symptoms since service were credible. The Board also found that his current tinnitus is likely due to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee disorder. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of Osgood Schlatter's Disease and granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's right knee disability, left knee disability (secondary to right knee), and peripheral neuropathy are all considered in their respective claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, the residuals of his right knee injury are rated as noncompensable, and he was granted a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD. The appeal regarding service connection for COPD and TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing at the Louisville RO. The issues of service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder as secondary to a service-connected disability, and low back disorder as secondary to a service-connected disability are pending.

The Board found that there is no competent credible evidence linking the Veteran's current left knee disability or sarcoidosis to his service. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and authorized examination reports. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder must also be addressed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical examination and incomplete records. The appellant needs to provide her medical records, including bone scan images, for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of left knee meniscectomy do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, and his left knee degenerative arthritis does not warrant an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's left knee impairment and limitation of motion have been rated at 10 percent since June 10, 2011. The initial rating for the condition remains unchanged.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent before December 1, 2005; 20 percent from December 1, 2005 to December 15, 2011; and 40 percent from December 15, 2011. The Veteran's disability is rated based on limitation of flexion and extension.

The Board has remanded the issues of reopening previously denied claims for service connection for various knee and ankle disabilities, as well as dizziness and headaches. The Veteran is to be scheduled for a new hearing at the RO.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations and consideration of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and knee disabilities.