Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran sustained a bilateral knee injury during service and has experienced continuous symptoms since then. The Board is at least in equipoise on whether these symptoms are related to her military service, thus granting service connection for post-traumatic chondromalacia patella.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee and right ankle disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to or the result of her service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development due to a hearing officer's retirement and the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected pseudofolliculitis barbae has been rated at 10 percent since February 1, 2007. The RO increased the rating to 20 percent effective April 17, 2010 and to 40 percent effective August 1, 2011.,The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine has been rated at 20 percent since April 17, 2010. The RO increased the rating to 40 percent effective August 1, 2011.,The Veteran's service-connected chronic left knee strain has been rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee laxity were granted separate 10 percent ratings. The RO reduced the rating for right knee laxity from 10 to 0 percent effective June 1, 2007, based on improvement in his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work experience.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting right knee disability did not worsen during service and thus, denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service and have denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his right knee disability. The issue of TDIU is also raised.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis has been manifested by complaints of pain, swelling, and instability. The VA examinations showed no evidence of fatigue, weakness, lack of endurance, incoordination, effusion, or instability. The Veteran had a range of motion of no worse than 5 degrees extension and flexion to no less than 80 degrees with pain throughout the range of motion. Therefore, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee arthritis is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, including bilateral hearing loss. The claims of entitlement to service connection for an eye disability and deep vein thrombosis with pulmonary embolism are denied. Claims for increased ratings for left knee, low back, and right fifth finger disabilities are also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, bilateral ankle, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disorders have been reopened. The claim for service connection for a spinal cord disorder has also been reopened.,The evidence received is not sufficient to reopen the claim of service connection for multiple uterine fibroids.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and for a new VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered based on the newly obtained evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected chondromalacia of the right knee is being remanded due to insufficient medical information and need for additional examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his total knee replacement, is currently rated at 40 percent disabling. The appeals for higher ratings have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right knee disability is not related to his military service or caused by his service-connected right ankle disability, but rather due to a combination of previous osteomyelitis, Paget's disease, aging and being overweight. As such, the preponderance of evidence does not support service connection for the right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for TDIU requires additional development, including obtaining an updated VA examination to assess his employability due to his service-connected disabilities.